Cassandra Hamdan brings her years of organizing experience and passion for social justice to help support our funder organizing efforts. She began her advocacy work in journalism and higher education before diving into the non-profit sector.
Before joining Groundswell Fund, she served as the Assistant Director of Programs at International House where she managed foundation and corporate relations, global leadership training, and fellowship grant programs for over 400 international graduate professionals.
She has done activist work with several organizations including the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), Amnesty International Albany Chapter, and completed a two-month grassroots field program with Eyewitness Palestine, an organization uncovering Palestinian trauma, cross movements, and storytelling in the occupied territories. Cassandra also provides pro-bono grant support and leadership development for several small WOC-owned non-profit organizations in New York City.
Cassandra holds a BA in Journalism from University at Albany and an MS in International Relations with a concentration in Conflict Resolution from Northeastern University. She takes pride in her duality of cultures–having been raised in a Puerto Rican and Palestinian household and hopes to see a world one day reflect that of her diverse upbringing—one where all peoples are interconnected beyond borders or differences.