Emily Polak, MPP, is the Director of the State Consumer Health Advocacy Program team at Community Catalyst. In this role, Emily offers technical assistance to local, state, and national partners in coalition building and maintenance, grassroots organizing, organizational strategic planning, and designing and implementing health advocacy campaigns.

Previously, Emily served as the deputy director of NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, supporting the organization in its political efforts to increase reproductive justice, health, and rights for all individuals in Virginia. Emily also spent a year and a half working on the Obama campaign for the 2008 election, and credits the campaign with allowing her to see the country. She spent time in five different primary states before completing the cycle in Michigan for the general election.

Emily received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Wesleyan University and a Master in Public Policy (MPP), with a focus on social and urban policy and women’s health, from the Harvard Kennedy School.