Shimica Gaskins is the President & CEO of End Child Poverty CA, powered by GRACE. With a background in law and public policy, she brings expertise in criminal justice reform, children’s rights, and social equity. Before leading End Child Poverty CA, Shimica served as Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund-California, driving statewide initiatives focused on health equity, juvenile justice reform, educational access, and poverty alleviation for children and families, especially those from marginalized communities.
Previously, Shimica held key roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, including Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Policy, where she shaped innovative policy initiatives. She also practiced civil litigation at Covington & Burling LLP and began her career as a law clerk for the Hon. Roger L. Gregory (Fourth Circuit) and the Hon. Victoria Roberts (Eastern District of Michigan).
Shimica earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America. An active leader in the nonprofit sector, she serves on the boards of Impact Justice, the California Budget & Policy Center, the Liberty Hill Foundation, and the Institute for Child Success. She is also a commissioner on the LA County Commission for Children and Families.
A 2022 Rosenberg Foundation Leading Edge Fellow and Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow, Shimica’s work has been featured in major outlets like USA Today, Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Daily News, and CalMatters.