Dear Friends,

I am excited to share that Advocates for Children of New York (AFC) has appointed Maria Odom as our next Executive Director. Maria will join AFC on September 15, 2025.

Maria comes to AFC with more than two decades of leadership experience championing the legal rights of vulnerable children and families. Most recently she served as Senior Vice President at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), where she spearheaded legal representation and programming for unaccompanied migrant children, including developing KIND’s social services program in New York City and significantly expanding KIND’s reach and capacity.

Earlier in her career, Maria served as the Citizenship & Immigration Services Ombudsman at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and as Executive Director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), the nation’s largest network of charitable legal immigration programs. Maria brings a wealth of experience as a legal practitioner, policy expert and advocate, and in leading high performing teams and programs.

Maria’s profound commitment to protecting children and her ability to balance visionary leadership with responsive, on-the-ground work and direct legal services makes her a natural fit to lead AFC into the future, as we continue to advocate for every child’s right to learn.

“I am honored to join Advocates for Children of New York as its next Executive Director,” said Maria. “AFC’s mission resonates deeply with my own lifelong commitment to equity and justice. I understand at a deep personal level that educational access is not just a right – it transforms life trajectories and opens the doors to countless future possibilities. I look forward to building on AFC’s legacy and working alongside our dedicated staff, Board, and partners to ensure every child has access to a quality education and the supports they need to thrive.”

-Maria Odom

Maria succeeds Kim Sweet, who has led AFC with extraordinary dedication and vision for the past 18 years. On behalf of AFC’s Board of Directors, I want to express our deep gratitude to Kim for her compassionate leadership and her unwavering commitment to advancing educational equity for New York City’s most vulnerable students. Her legacy provides a strong foundation for Maria’s leadership in the years ahead.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead AFC over the past 18 years. Together, we have made important strides in breaking down barriers to education for so many children and families. I am thrilled to pass the baton to Maria, whose experience, values, and vision make her the right leader for AFC’s next chapter. I am confident that under her leadership, AFC will continue to be a powerful champion for education justice in our city.”

-Kim Sweet

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We look forward to this exciting new chapter together.

Best,

Kimberley Harris
President, AFC Board of Directors