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“I was drawn to Public Advocates because of its commitment to addressing the root causes of inequality.  As a lifelong champion of social and environmental justice and worker’s rights, PA seemed to be a great fit.  And my role as a mom advocate has made me appreciate and want to work toward educational justice more than ever before.”

— Maddy Van Engel

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Maddy (she/her/hers) joined Public Advocates as Senior Finance Manager in July of 2024 after almost three years at a similar position with Amazon Watch, a nonprofit focused on human and environmental rights in the Amazon.  Before that, she worked mostly with the Arizmendi Association of Cooperatives. Though she started as a baker/ owner at Arizmendi, she quickly shifted to a position of finance and cooperative development, where she worked for over a decade to uplift voices who often went unheard, teach bookkeeping, develop new cooperatives, and so much more. She eventually helped found Strength in Numbers Bookkeeping Cooperative, a business that provided bookkeeping to social justice aligned businesses and cooperatives.  

Maddy not only comes with years of finance and cooperative experience, but she is trained in conflict resolution and formal mediation.  Additionally, her previous work experience focused on youth development and environmental justice. In her free time, Maddy goes for long runs, embarks on baking projects, and enjoys laughs with her two children.

Education

Maddy received her B.A. from Wesleyan University. She has completed a CNAP certification for nonprofits.