Leslie Abbey is an entrepreneur with a long-standing commitment to social justice and a track record of implementing data-driven practices that improve outcomes in the public and non-profit sectors.

Leslie’s expertise in social services, housing and workforce development, and operational and fiscal management, has helped her to launch numerous high-impact programs. Currently, she is Chief Executive Officer of Hot Bread Kitchen, which creates economic opportunity for New Yorkers who face barriers to meaningful careers by opening pathways to jobs and business ownership in the food industry. Previously, she served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Covenant House New York, an organization serving homeless youth, and as Chief Program Officer at Lantern Community Services, a nonprofit provider of supportive housing. Leslie also held positions at the New York City Administration for Children’s Services during the Bloomberg administration, after beginning her career as an attorney in the Legal Aid Society’s juvenile rights practice, where she represented youth in family court and in federal and state court class action matters.

Leslie is the co-founder and was a longtime board member of Family Legal Care, which promotes access to justice in Family Court. Leslie is also currently a member of the Board of Managers of Swarthmore College; the Board of Trustees of NYU School of Law; the Board of Directors of the NYC Employment + Training Coalition; Golden Seeds, and the Women’s Forum of New York. Leslie received a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and a J.D. from NYU School of Law.