Janis Bowdler is a Latina global leader who is dedicated to economic growth in communities and has been spending more of her time advancing economic opportunities for families who are in need. She started her career in Ohio working to rejuvenate Cleveland’s East side neighborhoods. She then moved to Washington DC and spent ten years advocating on behalf of Latino families at UnidosUS. The UnidosUS organization is the United States largest Latino nonprofit advocacy organization. It advocates for a reduction in deportations and giving a citizenship opportunity to illegal immigrants. Later in 2013 Janis joined JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation, which is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered in New York City. Janis Bowdler was also the president of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation. Recently, Janis co-authored Building Equitable Cities: How to Drive Economic Mobility and Regional Growth with Henry Cisneros and Jeff Lubell.

Janis Bowdler now has a new role as the first counselor for racial equity. Her job will be to build on the work the Treasury Department has previously done. Her role includes lifting barriers, and giving more opportunities to families in need. She will also help improve the access to the child tax credit and build her understanding of the Development Financial Institutions. Her job is very important to help our economy recover from the pandemic. 

Joe Biden had been urging the federal government to “pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved.“ Following Biden’s statement the Treasury Department needed to conduct an internal racial screening. The results showed that they needed an official to advance racial equity, and work towards the main goal which is to maintain a strong economy and create more job opportunities. Janis then replied with “I could not be more humbled by the historic opportunity to serve as the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s first Counselor for Racial Equity,”

Over all, Janis Bowdler is a very inspirational woman who has made a huge impact on our racial equality. She is a proud Latina, yoga teacher, mom to one daughter, and two rescued pit bulls. She lives with her husband and family in Takoma Park, MD. Essentially she will be able to give people more opportunities and strengthen our workforce.