Page 12 - CBB Testing

AWARDEES 12

Gwen Marie Austin

2022 Berkeley BPW’s
Woman of the Year.

Gwen Marie Austin came to the Bay Area from Chicago,
Illinois, where she graduated with a BA in Justice Studies
from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU).
Gwen was a recipient of the NEIU’s Social Justice Award and
was a McNair Scholar. She has an MS in Criminal/Social
Justice from Lewis University.
Gwen arrived in Berkeley after many years of working in the
hotel/hospitality sector and having worked closely with cor-
porate clients.
It was in Berkeley that Gwen wanted to put her social justice
passion into practice, and she joined BOSS, Building Oppor-
tunities for Self-sufficiency. Gwen has been with BOSS for
over a decade.
In her role as the Community Engagement Manager, Gwen
coordinates with BOSS’s numerous County-wide programs to
make sure that program managers and participants get the
resources they need. Her efforts have been foundational to
the growing success of BOSS and to the numerous clients
who have benefited from BOSS’s services and training pro-
grams.
Gwen continually seeks new partnerships with community
groups, schools, businesses, and individual donors and vol-
unteers to organize never ending need for household and of-
fice basics and items necessary to help someone transition-
ing into housing.