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ALYSSA RAYMAN-READ LEGAL COUNSEL FOR PHILANTHROPY AND THE NONPROFIT SECTOR

ALYSSA RAYMAN-READ


INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON NONPROFIT LAW & REGULATION
      NONPROFIT LAW LIBRARY     STATE-BY-STATE REGISTRATION & COMPLIANCE

ALYSSA RAYMAN-READ


Drawing from her experience as both an attorney and a nonprofit executive spanning a variety of sectors, Alyssa is a trusted partner and legal advisor to tax-exempt and mission-driven organizations and their leadership teams. Alyssa specializes in workplace matters, strategizing with clients to preempt and resolve workplace challenges, protect organizational reputation, maximize employee relations, and identify and minimize liability. Her practice includes investigations of conduct and discrimination, unfair labor practices and traditional labor issues, workforce design and development, proactive dispute resolution, and compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws. Alyssa provides advice on crisis management, leadership transitions, and workplace policies and best practices. Alyssa also conducts workshops and trainings on topics related to organizational leadership, aligning mission and values with workplace practices and culture, and non-discrimination, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Alyssa has particular experience with LGBTQ+ non-discrimination issues, focusing on the creation of inclusive and equitable workplaces for transgender and gender non-binary employees.

Alyssa has spent her professional life focused on two areas: providing strategic counsel and executive leadership for and within mission-driven organizations and advocating to reduce systemic inequalities and injustice in the workplace and beyond. As Vice President and Massachusetts Director of Conservation Law Foundation, where she oversaw all state advocacy, and as Senior Advisor to clean energy incubator HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team), Alyssa has advised on workforce development and organizational growth, compliance and risk planning, and establishing system-wide JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) practices. Previously, she was Assistant General Counsel and Director of Labor Engagement at Northeastern University, advising the senior executive team on labor relations and workplace matters. Before her role at Northeastern, Alyssa investigated and prosecuted unfair labor practice complaints across New England at the National Labor Relations Board. Alyssa is a frequent speaker and educator on gender and sexuality rights, and serves as Commissioner on the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth and as a member of the Beverly Human Rights Committee. She also served as a director and executive committee member of Greater Boston PFLAG from August of 2020 to December 2022.

Alyssa has a JD from Georgetown University Law School, an MA from Union Theological Seminary where she received the Charles A. Briggs Award for “Courage, Conscious, and Commitment,” and her BA with honors from Swarthmore College. Following law school, Alyssa clerked for federal judge Francisco A. Besosa in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Before embarking on her legal career, Alyssa was a policy journalist, editor, and writer translating complex legal and legislative concepts to diverse audiences. She enjoys cooking and eating good food, long hikes and big adventures (she is a thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail), and spending time outdoors with her family, rain or shine.

Alyssa is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.