Susannah Delano joined CTGCA as Executive Director in January 2018. She has worked for over 15 years to promote the good health and empowerment of women and challenged communities throughout California. She is grounded in a commitment to move the needle on issues of racial justice, gender equity, and larger inclusivity.
From 2010-2017 Susannah led Planned Parenthood Northern California’s advocacy work as Public Affairs Director. During that time of unprecedented national assault on reproductive health care, she and her teams were able to deliver key votes and public campaign elements to protect and even expand access, via legislation such as 2013’s AB 154 (Atkins). Under her supervision, online and grassroots support grew exponentially and the associated PAC saw an average 90% of its endorsed candidates win each cycle.
Throughout the 2000’s, Susannah worked successfully with in-home caregivers across California through their union (SEIU) to raise the standard of care for their low-income, elderly and disabled clients. These caregivers, primarily women of color and many recently immigrated, were also able to gain health and dental benefits, compensation above minimum wage, and important workplace protections as a result of groundbreaking contracts and political programs that Susannah helped to drive. Together they blocked dozens of proposed budget cuts that would have forced clients into costly institutions, including via a successful injunction in Dominguez v. Schwarzenegger (2009).
Susannah is based in Vallejo, CA with her partner, son, and cat Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
