AAPD Staff Member
Lara Schwartz
Vice President of External Affairs
Lara leads AAPD's strategic communications work. She also serves as an organization spokesperson and works with the AAPD team to strengthen partnerships with allied organizations.
Ms. Schwartz has extensive experience in the civil rights community, both as an advocate and as a communications professional. Most recently, she has worked as a strategist and speech writer for numerous civil rights groups, including organizations focused on disability, education, housing, veterans, health care, and LGBT rights. Previously, she served as legal director to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest organization advocating for civil rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. There, she promoted hate crimes legislation, an independent judiciary, benefits and protections for families, and the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act. Lara has extensive experience working in civil rights coalitions.
Ms. Schwartz served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Ronald Lee Gilman on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. She practiced securities defense at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom LLP and litigation and alternative dispute resolution at Gilbert, Heintz, and Randolph LLP. Lara is a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, where she was co-editor-in-chief of the Harvard Negotiation Law Review and a member of the Harvard Mediation Program. She earned an A.B. magna cum laude in English from Brown University, where she was commencement speaker. Lara worked for four years as a therapeutic riding instructor, teaching riding and horsemanship skills to children and adults with disabilities, and for one year as a counselor in a health facility serving court-involved adults with mental illness.
Latest News
- The American Association of People with Disabilities Welcomes Introduction of Voter Empowerment Act
Lara Schwartz | 05/17/2012
- AAPD Interfaith Initiative Director Ginny Thornburgh honored for advocacy and outreach
Lara Schwartz | 05/16/2012
