Taonga Leslie
Director of Policy and Program for Racial Justice
Taonga Leslie (he/him), joined ACS in January 2023 as Director of Policy and Program for Racial Justice. In this role, he works with ACS’ members, stakeholders, and partners to advance a more racially just and equitable future.
Before joining ACS, Taonga was a senior consultant with Public Equity Group, a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofits, foundations and other social impact groups develop strategic plans to advance racial and economic justice. Prior to consulting, he was an associate with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he investigated violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Latin America and represented a diverse portfolio of pro bono clients, including asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence, nonprofit arts organizations, and police accountability groups.
Other past professional experiences include supporting efforts to reduce youth incarceration and advance alternative justice models at Impact Justice, and internships with Equal Justice Initiative and the Southern Center for Human Rights.
Taonga is a graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as a Coker Fellow, and of Harvard University, where he earned a B.A. in Sociology.
ExpertForum Blog
Women and People of Color Deserve Better from the Second Amendment
November 7, 2023
ExpertForum Blog
Women and People of Color Deserve Better from the Second Amendment
November 7, 2023
press release
ACS Statement in Response to SCOTUS Decisions Banning Affirmative Action
June 29, 2023