Elaine Gross is Founder and President Emerita of ERASE Racism. She served as President of ERASE Racism for 21 years (2001-2022), during which time the organization was recognized locally, regionally, and nationally for its cutting-edge work.

Ms. Gross led the organization to prominence as a champion of fair housing, publishing research reports, undertaking litigation, advocating policy changes and heightening public understanding of the context of structural racism as it relates to housing discrimination and segregation. She similarly provided the vision and programmatic leadership for ERASE Racism’s Education Equity Initiative, which works collaboratively with educators, students and parents to take strategic actions to support the promotion of racially integrated schools and classrooms. Those actions center around the researched evidence of the benefits of diverse learning environments.

To enhance public awareness and the context in which policymaking takes place, Ms. Gross elevated public engagement on the crucial topic of racial equity in the region and beyond. She frequently delivered speeches to government, nonprofit, and business groups, colleges and universities. She published opinion articles and appeared regularly in influential media. She was a member of the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as other boards. She received the Lifetime Achievement Award of Long Island Business News, among other honors.

Ms. Gross has extensive experience in research, program development and evaluation at public and private agencies. She was hired in 2001 by the Long Island Community Foundation, where she conceived and launched the ERASE Racism Initiative, which became an independent not-for-profit corporation in 2004. Her previous experience includes serving as Founding Executive Director of Sustainable America, Program Officer at the Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, Deputy Director of the Boston Housing Partnership, and Human Services Director at the Boston Housing Authority.

She graduated from Boston University, where she earned her MSW with a focus on community organizing, policy, planning and non-profit management.