Kim Janey

Former Mayor of Boston and President & CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath)

Kim Michelle Janey is the president & CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families living in poverty to dramatically improve their economic mobility. EMPath offers a unique combination of direct services; a learning network of human services organizations; and research and advocacy for what works.

In 2021 Janey made history when she was sworn in as Boston’s first woman and first Black mayor, successfully leading the city through a multitude of unprecedented challenges, including the COVID-19 global pandemic. Janey was recently named as a 2023 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow where she and her cohort are working to advance the prosperity and well-being of children and families all across the United States. Previously, Janey served as a Spring 2022 Resident Fellow at the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School where she designed and led a study group entitled Racial Justice and Recovery: Leading American Cities to a More Equitable Future.

Devoting her life to public service, Janey has more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She has been recognized for her years of service with numerous awards and is a proud fourth generation Roxbury resident. Coming from a long line of educators, entrepreneurs, artists, and advocates, Janey was raised with values that guide her to this day: the importance of education, the power of community organizing, and the fundamental principles of equity and justice.