Draft:Christian F. Nunes

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Christian F. Nunes

Christian F. Nunes is an American feminist, licensed clinical social worker, and business owner. She has been the president of the National Organization for Women Inc and Foundation since August 2020, having previously served as the organization’s vice president. She also chairs the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee.

Nunes is the second African American president in NOW’s history since the organization was founded in 1966.

EDUCATION

Nunes received her bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) from Northern Arizona University, a Master of Science degree from Columbia University, and Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from the University of Phoenix.  She has also been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2005.

EARLY CAREER

In 2006, Nunes founded Wholistic Counseling and Wellness Alternatives LLC, which provides behavioral health, education, and consultation services, focusing on trauma recovery, empowerment, wellness, and inclusion through a holistic health approach. She also served as a part-time political consultant with an emphasis on electing women and women of color. Nunes served as a Commissioner and past Chair for the Mayor of Phoenix’s Commission on Disability Issues.  

She served as a victim advocate in Coconino County, which included the Navajo and Hopi reservations. She was also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Phoenix in Arizona, where she trained behavioral health students seeking to build their careers around compassion and equity. In 2023, Nunes founded a DEIA consulting firm that specializes in equity audits and equitable and just solutions for policy reform, advocacy, and strategy.

Nunes said she was inspired to become a social justice advocate when she was 12 years old when her family was attacked by racist neighbors. “The threats escalated from racist graffiti to chasing my brother with a truck. To defend my family, I began to speak out against the attacks and organizing with those around me. If I didn’t speak up, nobody would.”

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN

Prior to assuming a national leadership position with NOW, Nunes was an appointed board member for the Western District and Chair of the National NOW Committee on Combating Racism.  She also served on the Arizona NOW state board as leadership coordinator and was a member and past vice president of the Phoenix/Scottsdale chapter of NOW.  

In May 2019, the NOW board appointed Nunes to national vice president - a position she held until her appointment to national president in August 2020. Nunes was elected to a second term in August 2021 as a member of the “Moving Forward Together” team, alongside her running mate and current vice president, Bear Atwood.  

As president, Nunes launched initiatives such as the Unlock the Future campaign focused on humane treatment for detained immigrant families, especially women and girls seeking refuge from sexual violence, assault, and poverty. She also led the creation of a Bill of Rights for Immigrant Women and Girls, the NOW Racial Justice Summit, 100 days of the Feminist Agenda Campaign, and the Feminist State of the Union.  Additionally, she has publicly advocated for “anti-cyberflashing” laws to fight unsolicited digital harassment.

Nunes called for Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation amid his multiple accusations of sexual misconduct. In a statement, Nunes said that Cuomo was “a direct product of a culture that enables – and rewards – systemic toxic masculinity.”

Nunes criticized the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, calling the Court "compromised" and out of step with public opinion… ‘They're not ruling in favor of the people. They're ruling in their own moral viewpoints.’" She has supported corporations that have pledged to cover any abortion travel costs for employees in states with abortion bans.

Nunes has criticized the National Football League for not doing enough to combat sexual assault within the league.

Nunes has also been an outspoken advocate of Gender-Based Violence, on creating legislation and accountability practices for cyberbullying with Bumble and AI Deepfakes, AI generated Deepfakes Images, and active with Campaign to Ban Deepfakes.

AGENDA

Nunes ran for president on an intersectional feminist agenda, campaigning on a platform based on three commitments:

1. Creating a new era of intergenerational and multiracial leadership

1. Reigniting a stronger antiracist intersectional grassroots movement

1. Continuing to build bridges  

In an interview with former NOW president Terry O’Neill, Nunes said:  

“NOW was founded during the civil rights era. NOW bridged women's rights and racial justice at a time when people didn't want to talk about those things together. They wanted to keep them separate. They wanted to keep women's rights over here, and racial justice over here. NOW took a chance. It mixed groups of women, Black women and white women together, and said, 'No, we're going to talk about these issues, how they affect both of us. So, we're going to talk about this together as a racial justice issue and a women's issue. It fought for rights for many Black women, when no one was fighting for those rights for those women.”