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10/26/2021

U.S. Department of the Treasury Appoints First Counselor for Racial Equity | U.S. Department of the Treasury

U.S. Department of the Treasury Appoints First Counselor for
Racial Equity
October 25, 2021

WASHINGTON — Today, Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen announced the
appointment of Janis Bowdler to serve as the Department’s first Counselor for Racial Equity.
Ms. Bowdler will be charged with coordinating Treasury’s e orts to advance racial equity
including engaging with diverse communities throughout the country and to identify and
mitigate barriers to accessing benefits and opportunities with the Department.
“The American economy has historically not worked fairly for communities of color. The
pandemic threw a spotlight on this inequity; people of color were o en the first to lose their
jobs and businesses. Treasury must play a central role in ensuring that as our economy
recovers from the pandemic, it recovers in a way that addresses the inequalities that existed
long before anyone was infected with COVID-19,” said Secretary Janet L. Yellen. “I’m excited
that Janis will join us and devote her e orts to that mission.”
“I could not be more humbled by the historic opportunity to serve as the U.S. Department of
the Treasury’s first Counselor for Racial Equity,” said Janis Bowdler. “I have spent my entire
career working in solidarity with Black, Latinx, AAPI, Native communities, and other
communities of color to dismantle the structural and institutional racism that perpetuates
the racial wealth divide. Addressing racial and gender disparities and giving underserved
communities greater access to opportunities creates more broadly shared prosperity for all.
Thank you to Secretary Yellen for entrusting me with this position to help contribute to the
Biden Administration’s commitment to centering racial equity in its work.”
Earlier today, Treasury published a blog post by Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo titled, “A
Coordinated Strategy to Advance Racial Equity at Treasury,” where he highlighted this
historic appointment alongside the creation of a Racial Equity Advisory Committee and other
ongoing e orts to promote diversity among the Treasury workforce.

AB OUT COUNSELOR JANIS B OW DLER:
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0431

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U.S. Department of the Treasury Appoints First Counselor for Racial Equity | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Janis Bowdler has spent the last two decades advancing economic equity solutions for
communities of color and breaking down the barriers that underpin the disparities in wealth
and financial security by race and gender.
Janis’ career has spanned local service, national advocacy, and international philanthropy.
She launched her career in her native Northeast Ohio with Famicos Foundation, a
community development corporation working in the Hough and Glenville neighborhoods of
Cleveland, Ohio. As a Project Manager she developed and preserved a ordable
homeownership and rental opportunities for the residents of these historically African
American neighborhoods.
She then spent 10 years at UnidosUS, then National Council of La Raza, advocating for
economic mobility opportunities for Latino families. As the Director of Economic Policy, she
led research, advocacy, and policy development in the areas of job creation and job quality,
retirement security, housing, banking, community development and consumer protection.
Most recently, Janis served the President of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation. Under
her leadership, the firm launched several critical initiatives that have expanded capital for
entrepreneurs of color, improved access to banking products and services, expanded access
to new job skills, and built more inclusive neighborhoods. Janis played a critical role in
developing the firm’s incremental $30 billion racial equity commitment.
Janis has authored a number of publications on financial opportunity and economic
mobility. Most recently, she co-authored “Building Equitable Cities: How to Drive Economic
Mobility and Regional Growth” with Henry Cisneros and Je Lubell.
Janis received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Malone College in Canton, Ohio and a Master
of Science degree from Cleveland State University. She is a proud Latina, a yoga instructor,
mom to one daughter, two dogs, and a bunny. She lives with her husband and her family in
Takoma Park, Maryland.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0431

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