Welfare Policy
Higher Education

Maureen Lane was in first graduating class of the Community Leadership Seminar of Welfare Rights Initiative (WRI) at Hunter College in 1995. As a student, she was supported by public assistance. Today, she is the Co-Director of WRI and a DMI Fellow, focusing on issues of welfare policy and higher education.

WRI is a grassroots student activist and leadership training organization located at Hunter College which seeks to mobilize, empower and support women directly affected by welfare policy. As Co-Director, Maureen spearheaded WRI's broad campaign to successfully pass New York State legislation in 2000, expanding access to education as a route out of poverty.? Maureen has been instrumental in fostering sustainable relationships with policy makers, advocates, activists, academics, service providers, business and civic leaders to support WRI's mission.

From 1996-2002, Maureen chaired the Client Empowerment Committee for the Welfare Reform Network (WRN) of the Federation for Protestant Welfare Agencies.? She also serves on the Steering Committee of WRN, and the Advisory Board of Make the Road by Walking and Solutions for Economic Justice, Empowerment and Dignity (SEED).? As a Human Rights Fellow, Maureen was the Asylum Project intern for Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, 1995-1996.

As an Honor's student in the Thomas Hunter Honors Program at Hunter, Maureen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in June 2000.? She is currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work program at Hunter College School of Social Work.