Washington, DC – People For the American Way is proud to announce the selection of Na Eng as its new Chief Communications Officer.

Eng is an award-winning television news and documentary producer and seasoned communications executive. She most recently served as Communications Director at the McKnight Foundation, a $3 billion private family foundation based in Minneapolis, MN. During her tenure, she elevated the Foundation’s thought leadership position and helped spearhead an organizational transformation that included a new strategic framework and public commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that launched a series of shifts in policies and practices.

“I am thrilled to welcome Na to the leadership team of People For the American Way at this critical inflection point,” said People For President and CEO Ben Jealous. “As we set out to promote truth, justice, and the American way and counter far right-wing extremists, her sharp instincts for storytelling and narrative shaping will be an invaluable asset for us.”

Eng joins the storied 40-year-old advocacy organization mobilizing action on some of the most urgent challenges confronting American civic life. In addition to its core work strengthening democracy and countering far right extremism, People For the American Way will focus on three strategic priority areas to promote Truth, Justice, and the American Way:

• Truth is the freedom for educators to teach and students to learn the full story of our nation’s rich and complicated past. Every child should be prepared to participate and lead in our democracy.
• Justice is the work of reimagining public safety, protecting the freedom to live in peace without fear of unwarranted police violence and supporting communities to adopt new models for public safety departments.
• And the American Way is the freedom to vote and have those views fairly represented in our democracy. The candidate who earns the most popular votes in the country should be the one to secure the presidency.

Eng is the latest addition to a dynamic multi-racial, multi-generational executive team taking shape under Jealous, a recognized national civil rights movement leader and coalition builder, to meet the challenges of this unprecedented moment. Svante Myrick, the youngest mayor in the history of Ithaca, New York, joined as executive director earlier this year. During his two terms as mayor, Myrick successfully advanced some of the most ambitious progressive reforms in the nation. The executive team also includes Executive Vice President Marge Baker, Chief Development Officer Elise Convy, and Chief Strategy Officer Roger Vann.

As part of her new role, Eng, a former producer for NBC News, PBS, and CNBC, will design a creative video and digital content strategy to inform, investigate, and inspire. For two decades, she produced pieces that translated complex policy topics into human stories. Her stories reached millions of viewers and earned more than a dozen prestigious journalism honors, including an Emmy Award for a piece about the impact of regressive taxes on the working poor in Alabama, and an Edward R. Murrow Award for an investigation into private prisons. For years, she worked closely with her mentor Bill Moyers as a producer on Now with Bill Moyers, his weekly public affairs news magazine show on PBS, and on a historical documentary series.

“We can’t underestimate how well-designed advocacy communications can influence cultural conversations and move people to deeper understanding and action,” said Eng. “In the history of successful social movements, we’ve seen the power of words, images, and stories to grab people by the throats, lift up a vision of what’s possible, and galvanize a sense of urgency. I couldn’t be more excited to lead this effort at People For the American Way.”

In addition to her journalism honors, Eng has been awarded the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, the International Reporting Project Fellowship, and the Fulbright Scholarship. The Fulbright program recently recognized her as one of its most distinguished alumni in its 75 year-history. She serves on the board of directors for the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and until recently, co-chaired the Government Relations and Public Policy committee of the Minnesota Council on Foundations.

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About People For the American Way 

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.