Rinku Sen
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Rinku Sen is a writer and social justice strategist whose work calls attention to systemic racism and other social issues.
Born in Calcutta, India, Sen came to New York in early childhood. Growing up as a brown person in a predominantly white neighborhood, Sen was aware of her “otherness” from a very early age. She became an activist and organizer while a student at Brown University, standing up against all forms of discrimination.
Sen has written two books: Stir It Up: Lessons in Community Organizing and The Accidental American: Immigration and Citizenship in the Age of Globalization. These texts provide a model for community organizing that integrates an analysis of race, gender, class, and other systems.
During her career, Sen has mentored dozens of organizers and activists. She has worked as a political strategist for organizations including the ACLU and PolicyLink. She is also a sought-after public speaker, helping people learn how to approach racial issues in a way that fosters racial equity.
Sen is currently executive director of the Narrative Initiative, which is “building a vision of true multiracial, pluralistic democracy, and helping organizers across movements learn how to saturate every story with their ideas.”
Among other accolades, Sen was named one of Utne Reader’s list of 50 visionaries who are changing the world.