Saskia Harak

Saskia comes to Dream.org with over 12 years of experience in advocacy and organizing, on environmental, health care, and housing issues. Saskia’s work is rooted in racial and economic justice, with an emphasis on uplifting the voices of those most impacted. Before Dream.org, Saskia honed her skills at developing strategy, building strong internal systems, deepening relationships with partners, and empowering staff to thrive. She spent over 6 years total on staff at Jane Addams Senior Caucus, a small community-based nonprofit in Chicago, holding positions ranging from organizer to executive leader. There Saskia was able to understand what it takes to do the on-the-ground, community-level work necessary for social and systems change. Saskia also spent over 5 years with Food & Water Watch, building internal systems, supporting volunteers around the country, helping local organizers find the right tools to meet their needs. After immigrating from Guyana to New York with her parents as a young child, Saskia was raised by parents who spent their entire careers in the transportation and freight industry. She understands the importance of including everyone in the transition to a green economy. Saskia holds a deep love for the Midwest and will convince you that you need to visit. After growing up in Minnesota, she attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and received a degree in Political Science. She then graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, and received a Juris Doctorate. After a year of Americorps VISTA service at a nonprofit in Minneapolis, Saskia has lived for over ten years in and around Chicago, Illinois.