RUTH MESSINGER

Ruth Messinger is the President of American Jewish World Service, an international development agency. Previously Ruth was active in local politics in New York for two decades, serving as a Council Member and as Manhattan Borough President. She was the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor of New York City in 1997.

Messinger’s areas of expertise include: democracy and civic participation, urban policy and politics, social welfare, education, employment and tax policy. She is a social worker by professional training, and has taught in several MSW programs and is one of the leading advocates and effective spokespersons for the growing role of social workers in politics.

The organization Ms. Messinger directs provides humanitarian aid, technical assistance and skilled volunteers to local grassroots groups in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Russia, and the Ukraine in projects involving health, education, agriculture, micro enterprise, economic development, human rights and civil society.

Ruth Messinger has taught Policy and Politics at Queens and Hunter Colleges and is active in the fight to protect and improve the future of higher education in New York.

Tel 212.736.2597
212.273.1634
989 Avenue of the Americas, 10^th Floor
New York, NY 10018
Fax.212.736.3463
rmessing@jws.org
Tel. and fax: 212.873.7182
91 Central Park West
New York 10023