Tara Klein is a native New Yorker and urban policy professional who fiercely believes in the power of using government systems to create social change. With experience as both a nonprofit advocate and a legislative staffer, Tara supports Equity Advocates in building strong and effective campaigns to achieve food justice in New York.

Tara is currently Deputy Director of Policy & Advocacy at United Neighborhood Houses, a nonprofit organization that represents New York's settlement houses, where her work entails managing the organization's government affairs work at the New York State and City levels on policy issues that include universal child care, youth development, older adult issues, and expanding access to the ballot box. This work includes directing budget and legislative campaigns, building partnerships, and conducting policy analysis to support New York’s settlement houses and the communities they serve.

Prior to joining UNH in 2018, Tara worked for several members of the New York State Legislature, most recently serving as Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s Legislative Director in addition to positions with Assemblymember Nily Rozic and former Senator Daniel Squadron. Tara also has a background in nonprofit advocacy, most notably through her work to reduce suburban sprawl as Policy Director for Vision Long Island.

Tara holds an M.S. in Urban Policy Analysis and Management from The New School's Milano School and a B.A. from Vassar College in Sociology, and proudly hails from Queens. She likes to spend her free time traveling, hiking, and trying to get more women elected to local office.