Rachel Foster: Three Decades of Legal Advocacy for Survivors and Systemic Reform
Rachel Foster, a distinguished Cornell University alumna and dedicated public interest lawyer, has spent more than thirty years working at the critical intersection of law, gender-based violence, and survivor advocacy. Her career represents a profound commitment to justice, transparency, and institutional accountability through lawful, trauma-informed approaches.
Founding Role in World Without Exploitation and the Epstein Case Advocacy
Most recently, as Founding Co-Chair of World Without Exploitation (WWE), Foster worked closely with survivors connected to the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell case to advocate for the release of sealed court documents. This development, first reported by The Cornell Daily Sun, was described by many survivors as central to achieving transparency and accountability in a deeply sensitive matter.
For survivors, the release of these documents was not about sensational headlines but about fundamental recognition, due process, and institutional responsibility. According to public records, organizational statements, and reporting by The Cornell Daily Sun, Foster's role focused on helping survivors organize effectively, coordinate outreach efforts, and engage lawmakers through structured, lawful advocacy campaigns.
Educational Foundation at Cornell and Brooklyn Law School
Foster graduated from Cornell University in 1989 with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the School of Human Ecology. This academic discipline examines individual development, family systems, and the social structures that shape vulnerability—themes that would later define her entire professional focus and approach to systemic reform.
She subsequently earned a Juris Doctor in Public Interest Law from Brooklyn Law School between 1991 and 1994. Her legal training specifically prepared her for work in civil legal services and policy advocacy, particularly for underserved and marginalized communities facing systemic barriers to justice.
During her time at Cornell, Foster actively worked with survivors of sexual assault and participated in various social justice initiatives. She has consistently credited her academic background for shaping her understanding of trauma-informed advocacy and the importance of addressing root causes through systemic reform.
A Career Deeply Rooted in Public Interest Law and Service
Foster served for over twenty-two years as Senior Staff Attorney and Board Secretary at South Brooklyn Legal Services from 1993 to 2016, working extensively on legal matters affecting low-income families and vulnerable populations. She also held the role of Advocacy Counsel and Board Member at the Citizens' Committee for Children of New York for nearly thirteen years, contributing significantly to child welfare and public policy discussions.
Between 2014 and 2017, she worked as a Client Advocate at Sanctuary for Families, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. From 2013 to 2018, she served as Campaign Director at New Abolitionists, focusing specifically on anti-trafficking initiatives and policy reform.
In 2015, she co-founded World Without Exploitation, a national coalition aimed at connecting anti-trafficking and gender-based violence organizations to strengthen collective policy engagement. Through WWE, she helped organize survivor-led advocacy campaigns, including coordinated meetings with lawmakers and public awareness efforts related to the Epstein case, as documented by The Cornell Daily Sun.
Holistic Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom
Beyond her formal legal and policy work, Foster founded Heights Advisors in 2006 and co-founded the Brooklyn Cat Cafe in 2016. She has also supported innovative efforts to build domestic violence shelters that allow survivors to keep their pets—addressing a practical but significant barrier many face when attempting to leave abusive situations.
Sustained Focus on Accountability and Institutional Reform
The Epstein case remains a serious and complex issue that has raised difficult questions about how powerful institutions are monitored and how vulnerable people are protected within legal and social systems. In this challenging context, Foster has maintained a clear focus on helping survivors make their voices heard in courts and before lawmakers through structured, respectful advocacy.
Her work consistently supports legal and policy-based efforts aimed at accountability, transparency, and meaningful reform of systems that have historically failed survivors of gender-based violence and exploitation.
Educational Foundation Leading to Lasting Social Impact
Foster's career demonstrates powerfully how education can shape long-term public service and social justice work. With a background in human development and public interest law, she has built a professional path centred on careful, survivor-focused advocacy that respects both legal processes and human dignity.
Her journey reflects how strong academic training, combined with specialized legal knowledge and deep ethical responsibility, can lead to meaningful social impact over decades of dedicated work. Through her various roles and initiatives, Foster continues to exemplify how legal advocacy can be both professionally rigorous and profoundly human-centered in its approach to systemic change.
