Esther Odusote

Program Director

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

Prior to working at CPA, Esther worked for over eight years in the nonprofit sector working with individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. During her tenure as the manager of day habilitation programs, Esther developed a community focused mindset that worked to integrate adults with developmental disabilities into their communities. Seeing the positives both for the individuals and the communities, Esther assisted in the expansion of  the number of centers to include four of the five boroughs in New York City. She ensured the community- engagement processes she engineered were used as a model for the expansion into the other boroughs. These successes spurred Esther’s interest and passion for grassroots community organization.

From her experience as a first generation Nigerian-American in New York City and growing up in a majority Dominican neighborhood in Uptown Manhattan, Esther saw firsthand the benefits of living in a truly diverse and multi-lingual city. Unfortunately, she also saw that the distribution of resources was not always fair and tended to shortchange minority neighborhoods.  Her cultural background, spirituality, and work in the nonprofit sector, sharpened Esther’s goals and  passion for community engagement and empowerment. 

Esther holds a Psychology (BA) from Binghamton University (SUNY).