Ann Toback, CEO
Ann Toback is the transformative CEO of the Workers Circle, where she has redefined what a 124-year-old progressive Jewish organization can achieve in the modern era. As the first female CEO in the organization's history, Ann has spent more than 15 years building a fusion of Eastern European Jewish heritage with contemporary social justice activism that now reaches millions. Drawing on the Workers Circle's rich Eastern European tradition of resistance and resilience, she has transformed this heritage into a powerful force for democracy and social justice.
The Workers Circle has emerged as a leading Jewish organization in democracy protection, mobilizing to reach over 1.6 million Black voters with essential information to overcome voter suppression in 2024. The organization launched two major initiatives: the Black and Jewish Partnership for Democracy with Black Voters Matter in January 2024, building a powerful coalition for democratic change, and Democracy Circles in 2023, a grassroots organizing program that has grown to 80+ groups with over 350 regular participants. Throughout 2024, the Workers Circle's expanding programs and initiatives brought 60,000 new activists into its community.
During her tenure, the Workers Circle has become a leading center for Yiddish language instruction, serving 2,000+ students annually through 160 classes. In 2018, she spearheaded a biennial Workers Circle Jewish Journey, where she plans and leads delegations through Poland and Lithuania, connecting participants directly with 1,000 years of Yiddish heritage, culture, and activism.
Integrating cultural education with activism, the Workers Circle engages new generations through Yiddish language programs and social justice initiatives. The organization's College Network, now in its fifth year, has grown to over 600 student members across 50+ campuses nationwide, where young leaders combine cultural learning with democracy-building work.
Prior to joining the Workers Circle, Ann served as Assistant Executive Director at the Writers Guild of America, East (1999-2008), where she led the historic 2007-2008 Writers Guild strike on the East Coast. This experience as a union leader, combined with her background as an attorney (Boston University School of Law, J.D.), has informed her approach to merging advocacy, education, and cultural preservation into a strategy for collective impact.
Today, Ann leads an organization that uniquely bridges Jewish cultural preservation and progressive organizing, advancing democracy through both grassroots activism and cultural education. Her work ensures that the Workers Circle's legacy of activism continues to resonate and create change in contemporary movements for social justice.