We hired a deputy director! Meet Chantal Coudoux.

Chantal is a community organizer who is passionate about fighting state violence in all its forms and making sure our communities have safe ways to heal from trauma. She began collaborating with CASS in the spring of 2017 to build the Safe Bar Collective in her role at the Restaurant Opportunities Center DC, providing restaurant and bartending job skills training to our pilot cohort of new restaurant workers.

Chantal was born and raised in D.C. and ventured to the (sometimes best) West Coast for school. In LA, she was introduced to the Labor/Community Strategy Center, one of the oldest base-building civil rights organizations in the country, and trained in transformative organizing. She has worked as an organizer, policy advocate, development associate and programs manager, and spent many years working in the restaurant industry.

“CASS’ work is really powerful to me because it centers survivors and those directly impacted in leading the fight against the harassment and violence happening at the intersection of our identities that are collectively under attack,” said Chantal. “As someone who deeply loves her city and the souls that make up its fabric, I am excited by CASS’ commitment to community-based tools to address trauma and build the safer spaces that we all deserve.”

Chantal graduated from Scripps College with a B.A. in politics and a concentration in critical race theory. She is the proud cat mom to three stubborn little ones. She loves food, French wine (really all wine), and watching futbol.

As deputy director, Chantal will support CASS’s future growth and strategic response to an ever-increasing demand for the organization’s services, and will manage the organization’s grant-writing, operations, and administration while helping to sustain and grow programs.

We’re excited to welcome her to the team — we know her expertise will help CASS continue to flourish and thrive.