Angela Ferrell-Zabala is an American reproductive rights, gun control, and social justice activist who serves as the inaugural executive director of Moms Demand Action.[1][2][3][4]

Angela Ferrell-Zabala
Ferrell-Zabala in 2023
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Community organizer
  • political activist
  • nonprofit executive
EmployerMoms Demand Action
TitleExecutive Director of Moms Demand Action (2023–present)
SpouseFernanda Ferrell-Zabala

Career

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Ferrell-Zabala's early career included community organizing positions at several social justice organizations, with a focus on outreach to faith communities.[5] In 2011–12, she was the director of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice's Spiritual Youth for Reproductive Freedom project, conducting reproductive rights outreach on college campuses.[6][7][8] Ferrell-Zabala was also an organizer for Community Change, and the Community Voting Project.[9]

In 2014, Ferrell-Zabala joined Planned Parenthood as Director of African American Leadership and Engagement.[10][11][12] She was subsequently appointed the National Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.[13][14]

Ferrell-Zabala joined Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action's parent organization, in 2019 as Chief Equity, Outreach and Partnerships Officer.[15][9] After serving in the role for 18 months, she was appointed Senior Vice President of Movement Building for Everytown.[16][17][18] Ferrell-Zabala was appointed the Moms Demand Action's first executive director on April 27, 2023.[19]

Personal life

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Ferrell-Zabala identifies as Christian and LGBT.[5] Ferrell-Zabala and her wife, Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala live in Washington, D.C., with their four children. In 2022, she shared in a New York Times profile about LGBT families that she had befriended SumOfUs Executive Director Emma Ruby-Sachs at a nonprofit leadership retreat in 2016, only to later discover their daughters were half-siblings, having used the same sperm donor.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Gerson, Jennifer (May 15, 2023). "'Real change starts at home': How the new Moms Demand Action leader is working to keep gun safety top of mind for Americans". The 19th. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  2. ^ Rayford, Rayna Reid (April 27, 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Amid Troubling Gun Violence, Angela Ferrell-Zabala Is Fighting Back As The First Executive Director Of Moms Demand Action". Essence. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  3. ^ Clayton, Abené (May 24, 2023). "Do gun violence prevention groups have a race problem?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "In America, the gun lobby's nightmare is named Shannon Watts". France 24. May 7, 2023. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "21 Faith Leaders To Watch in 2021". Center for American Progress. May 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Survey shows Americans' conflicted abortion views". MPR News. June 9, 2011. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Clarkson, Frederick (May 3, 2012). "Pro-Choice Faith Group Goes Beyond Roe V. Wade". Women's eNews. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Bader, Eleanor J. (July 6, 2011). "STOKING FIRE: Research Underscores the Potential for a Pro-Choice Agenda Among Evangelical Youth". Rewire News Group. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Everytown Taps Angela Ferrell-Zabala as Head of "Movement Building" - A Newly Merged Department Combining the Organization's Grassroots Power with External Engagement and Partnership Programs". Everytown. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  10. ^ Ferrell-Zabala, Angela (April 12, 2023). "More Than Prayers: Why Faith Leaders Are Vital Voices in the Fight Against Gun Violence by Angela Ferrell-Zabala". Unbound. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rep. Sean Duffy remarks on race and abortion". The Post-Crescent. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Bracey Sherman, Renee (September 30, 2015). "Planned Parenthood Funding Comes Under Attack on Capitol Hill". Ebony. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  13. ^ "Women's March this week comes amid controversy, with some partners now off the list". NBC News. January 16, 2019. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  14. ^ Keneally, Meghan. "Abortion bans like Alabama's pose another hurdle to lower-income Americans". ABC News. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Schor, Elana. "Gun-control group forms interfaith team ahead of 2020 elections". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Jabali, Malaika (April 18, 2023). "News Got You Down? These Four Black Activists And Groups Give Us Hope". Essence. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "Naomi Osaka, Michelle Wie West, and the strength of female athletes". Fortune. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  18. ^ Staff, Tribune (April 17, 2023). "Where Do Faith Leaders Stand on Tennessee Republicans' Divisive Actions and Declaration of "War"". The Tennessee Tribune. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  19. ^ "Angela Ferrell-Zabala Named First-Ever Executive Director of Moms Demand Action". Everytown. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  20. ^ Blum, Dani (June 25, 2022). "The Joy in Finding Your Chosen Family". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.