FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2025
CONTACT: Emily W., Sr. Media and Communications Strategist, [email protected]
AUSTIN — The Texas Freedom Network (TFN) today announced that Felicia M. Martin will serve as its next President and Executive Director, leading the organization during a critical time for civil rights, education, and social justice across Texas. Martin brings over two decades of experience championing equity and access for traditionally underrepresented communities.
Martin joins TFN from The Jed Foundation (JED), where she served as Regional Director of Academic Programs for Texas. At JED, she led initiatives to improve mental health support for students across the state, particularly focusing on LGBTQIA+ youth and BIPOC students.
“Our search committee engaged with many exceptional candidates who share TFN’s values and vision for Texas,” said TFN Board Chair Emma Brockway. “Felicia Martin’s powerful combination of strategic leadership experience and demonstrated success in advancing civil rights in Texas makes her the right leader for TFN at this critical moment. Her proven ability to build strong teams, secure resources, and create lasting change across our state will be invaluable as we celebrate our 30th anniversary and plan our organization’s next chapter of impact across the state.”
Martin is a queer, third-generation Tejana whose roots in Texas inform her passionate advocacy for equity and justice. She will be instrumental in advancing TFN’s mission to protect the freedoms of all Texans.
“I am honored to join the Texas Freedom Network at this pivotal moment for civil rights in our state,” Martin said. “TFN’s commitment to upholding and promoting the freedoms of every Texan resonates deeply with my values, both as a leader and as a native Texan raising my daughter here. I am energized by the opportunity to work alongside TFN’s dedicated team and partners to articulate a bold vision for our future – one that prioritizes civil rights protections and creates lasting, positive change for all Texas communities.”
Prior to her work at JED, Martin served in various leadership roles at EMERGE Fellowship, where she was instrumental in developing programs to empower high-performing students from underserved communities to attend and graduate from selective colleges. Her work with EMERGE earned national recognition, including the 2022 National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Inclusion, Access, and Student Success award.
Martin’s experience includes developing and implementing infrastructure to secure philanthropic funds exceeding $10 million annually, leading strategic initiatives, and fostering inclusive organizational cultures. Throughout her career, she has trained over 1,000 educators and youth leaders and has consistently demonstrated success in building partnerships to advance civil rights and equity initiatives.
A Rice University alumna with a Master’s Degree in Organization Development from St. Edward’s University, Martin brings extensive experience in organizational leadership and a deep understanding of the challenges facing Texas communities. She has served on several boards, currently advising the education committee for Connect Community, and is an alumna of the 2023 Latinos for Education Board Fellowship program.
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