Rachel Friedman is a dedicated, visionary, and results-driven leader committed to advancing social justice and ending gender-based violence. She is strategic and highly effective, with a proven ability to lead impactful initiatives and build strong, collaborative networks. As a leader, Rachel is both passionate and pragmatic—focused on creating tangible change for vulnerable communities, particularly survivors of sexual violence. Her leadership is marked by her ability to bring people together, advocate for systemic change, and secure the resources necessary to drive missions forward. 

In addition to being the Executive Director of the DC Coalition to End Sexual Violence (DCCESV), Rachel has been Deputy Director of MCSR (formerly Men Can Stop Rape) since 2012. MCSR mobilizes boys and men as catalysts for positive change through transformational youth programs, pioneering trainings, consulting services, and acclaimed multimedia public education. Rachel sets strategic priorities and oversees the integration of policy, development, finance, and communications. 

Since its founding in 2016, Rachel has led the DCCESV – the federally designated state sexual assault coalition for Washington, DC – guiding its growth into a powerful coalition uniting 30+ member programs, including direct service providers, government agencies, and community stakeholders. The coalition has played a leading role in raising awareness, creating educational initiatives, and spearheading policy reforms in DC.  

Key accomplishments include advocating for expanded victim services and stronger survivor protections, creating initiatives that address the intersections of sexual violence and other vulnerabilities, building partnerships with law enforcement, social services, campuses, and the military, and leading annual Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaigns involving media outreach, public events, and DC Council advocacy.  

Rachel is also the lead architect of ASK (Assault. Services. Knowledge.), a national digital platform connecting survivors to critical resources, and the Co-Executive Producer of Nameless, a documentary on child sex trafficking in DC. Her work has shaped local and national policy, drawn media attention from The Washington Post to NBC, and secured major funding from agencies like the DOJ, HHS, and the CDC.  

Rachel’s advocacy in Washington, DC, also extends to national efforts to address gender-based violence. She served on the Leadership Council for the Victim Assistance Network of DC from 2013 to 2019 and was a member of the District’s Missing Youth Taskforce. Rachel has also consulted to the White House Council on Women and Girls, Meta, Verizon, and DC United. In recognition of her contributions, Rachel received Discovery Communications' “Creating Change Award” in 2011 and was a finalist in the 2024 Moxie Awards, which honors bold organizations in the DC metro area for their business impact. 

She holds an MBA from Trinity Washington University and a BA in Women’s Studies from UMass. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband, Adam, and their many plants.