FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2026
Contact: press@chn.org

WASHINGTON — The Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) has selected advocate, community leader, and former White House lawyer Christopher Kang as its next executive director. Kang, who will be the first person of color to lead the coalition, joins CHN as it prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary this year.

Kang will officially assume the role on July 6, 2026. He will succeed Deborah Weinstein, who has served as CHN’s executive director for more than two decades. Weinstein announced in October 2025 her intention to step down from the role in June 2026.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of CHN, I’m thrilled that Chris Kang will serve as our next executive director at a time when the coalition’s work to reduce poverty and hunger and improve access to life’s necessities could not be more important. His dedication to making a real difference in people’s lives, his significant government and advocacy experience, and his commitment to justice will make him a tremendous leader of CHN and the community of advocates it serves,” said Ellen Teller, president of the CHN board of directors and chief government affairs officer at the Food Research & Action Center. “It’s been an honor and personal privilege to work alongside Debbie Weinstein, whose legacy of fighting for low-income people and other vulnerable communities is extraordinary. Her stewardship of CHN for more than 20 years — and her work at our member organization, the Children’s Defense Fund, before that — has been invaluable and will allow Chris to hit the ground running and build on the solid foundation she has established. I look forward to working closely with Chris on CHN’s exciting next chapter.”

Kang has worked throughout his career to advance change through policy, politics, and communications. The son of immigrants, disability rights advocates, and public school teachers, he served seven years in the Obama White House as Deputy White House Counsel and Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and he also previously worked for Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin as Director of Floor Operations, Judiciary Committee Counsel, and Labor Counsel. Kang also co-founded Demand Justice, a grassroots advocacy organization to educate and mobilize the public to bring balance to the courts, and he led the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a coalition of more than 30 national Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander organizations. Additionally, Kang has served on numerous boards, including the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and American Constitution Society.

“It is an honor to be chosen to lead the Coalition on Human Needs and to take the baton from Deborah Weinstein, who has forged CHN as an essential resource and convener for the human needs community and a respected voice on Capitol Hill,” Kang said. “I am inspired to build upon this foundation and to harness the power and promise of collective action to advance equality, justice, and opportunity for low-income people throughout our nation.”

CHN conducted a comprehensive nationwide search for Weinstein’s successor. Ultimately, Kang stood out as a leader who would not only preserve the spirit of CHN but would also be a next-level thinker who could elevate bold, creative ideas to amplify CHN’s impact and improve the lives of low-income people.

“I couldn’t be more delighted that Chris Kang will be the Coalition on Human Needs’ new executive director,” Weinstein said. “Chris has a breadth of experience that will serve CHN well, and, most important, brings values-driven dedication to meet human needs and the vision to lead our community in effective advocacy. At a time when the human needs community needs to be strong and strategic, Chris Kang is a leader who will guide CHN in the right direction.” 

On July 16, Weinstein will receive the Human Needs Hero Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the advocacy community throughout her remarkable career. The award will be presented at CHN’s Human Needs Hero event, an annual celebration of champions in the fight for economic and social justice. For more about the Human Needs Hero event, click here.

The following current and former CHN board members were part of the CHN executive director search committee.

Indivar Dutta-Gupta, movement strategist and advisor to Community Change

I am genuinely excited to welcome Chris Kang as the new Executive Director of CHN. He is an outstanding choice, and his leadership ensures that we will honor Debbie Weinstein’s more than two decades of stalwart advocacy while seizing the potential for CHN’s future at a critical moment in our nation’s history. We are fully committed to supporting Chris as he begins this important work.

Dina Kastner, public policy and advocacy manager, National Association of Social Workers

I am so excited for the future of CHN with the hiring of Christopher Kang as our new Executive Director. CHN has a strong foundation of collaboration and coalition building. I know that Chris will be able to inspire CHN stakeholders to continue to build upon that foundation.

Amelia Kegan, associate general secretary for policy and advocacy, Friends Committee on National Legislation

At a time when so much is at stake for the lives of people around the country struggling to make ends meet, Chris Kang is the right person to lead CHN in this moment. His deep relationships, strategic thinking, keen understanding of legislative advocacy, and ability to inspire in this political environment are the exact mix of what will successfully bring CHN into its next phase.

Bruce Lesley, president, First Focus on Children

Christopher Kang is exactly the leader the Coalition on Human Needs requires at this critical moment for low-income children and families. His deep experience in the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in grassroots advocacy gives him a critical combination of skills to address the challenges facing our nation’s families in need. At a time when the federal safety net is under unprecedented attack, CHN has chosen a terrific leader for the millions of people who depend on CHN’s advocacy voice. I am pleased to have the privilege to work alongside Chris in the fights ahead.

Amy Matsui, vice president of income security and child care, National Women’s Law Center (NWLC)

Christopher Kang is an extraordinary choice to lead CHN at this critical moment. CHN is a force to be reckoned with, galvanizing human needs organizations across the country and mobilizing the public to combat this administration’s relentless attacks on women, children, families, and communities. NWLC is proud to be part of CHN, and I look forward to fighting for people-first policies under Kang’s leadership.

Ellen Nissenbaum, senior advisor, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Chris is an immensely talented community leader, strategist and organizer, and I have great confidence he will build on the incredible legacy and impact of Deborah Weinstein. Chris has served with distinction across government on a variety of critical issues. Debbie has been a tireless champion for the needs of low-income people for decades. CHN and the entire progressive community will benefit from Chris’s leadership at a time when the organization’s mission is more critical than ever.

About the Coalition on Human Needs

Founded in 1981, the Coalition on Human Needs (CHN) is an alliance of national organizations working together to promote public policies that address the needs of low-income and other vulnerable populations. The Coalition’s members include civil rights, religious, labor, and professional organizations, service providers, and those concerned with the well-being of children, women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. For more about CHN, click here.

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