Dr. Kali-Ahset Amen leads efforts to help city leaders partner with residents to understand community needs and deliver solutions that improve lives. With more than 15 years of experience in participatory program design, qualitative social research, and organizational management, she brings deep expertise in civic engagement and institutional strategy. A sociologist and civic engagement practitioner, Kali-Ahset’s work centers on racial justice, public accountability, and equitable urban transformation. Her career has been rooted in community-based initiatives — from international poverty alleviation and advocacy research to leading arts, humanities, and journalism programs that strengthen civic life. Previously, she directed projects at Johns Hopkins using cultural preservation and the humanities to deepen public engagement and built training programs focused on accountability reporting and civic-minded storytelling at the Center for Journalism & Democracy.