June 8, 2026
Dear MADRE Community,
After nearly 15 years of dedicated leadership at MADRE, Yifat Susskind is stepping into a President Emerita role, and DeLisha Tapscott and Lauren Dasse have assumed shared leadership as MADRE’s new Co-Executive Directors.
This moment marks both a transition and a continuation: a transition in leadership, and a continuation of MADRE’s unwavering commitment to feminist movements, grassroots organizing, and collective liberation around the world.
We arrive at this moment with deep gratitude. As we approach this transition, the Board wants to recognize Yifat’s remarkable contributions in shaping MADRE into the impactful, values-driven organization it is today.
We are profoundly grateful for all she has given to MADRE and are delighted that she will continue to support the organization as a strategic advisor and trusted partner in the years ahead.
The challenges facing our movements today are urgent and complex. Across the United States and around the world, authoritarianism, militarization, and attacks on human rights and democracy are intensifying. The organizations and communities advancing progressive change are facing growing threats and pressure. MADRE and our partners confront these tests every day.
This leadership transition comes at a time when collaboration, shared responsibility, and mutual accountability are paramount. Our move to a Co-Executive Director model reflects MADRE’s long-standing commitment to these values. And across the sector, this approach has proven especially effective in complex and rapidly shifting environments.
For MADRE, it offers the breadth and depth of leadership needed to meet a global landscape marked by rising authoritarianism and shrinking civic space, while staying firmly rooted in the experience and wisdom of our grassroots partners. Looking ahead, MADRE will continue to build and strengthen the relationships, advocacy, and movement infrastructure that have long defined our work.
There is no one more prepared to take on this work than DeLisha and Lauren, and we’re proud to support their fearless leadership.
With gratitude,
Anne Hess and Blaine Bookey
Co-Chairs, MADRE Board of Directors