Deborah Frieze is an author, entrepreneur and social activist, presently serving as a speaker, consultant and adviser to numerous grassroots organizations both locally and abroad.

In 2012, she co-founded the Boston Impact Initiative with her father Michael Frieze. The father-daughter team combined their complimentary skill-sets- grassroots social change (Deborah) with philanthropy and investing, (Michael), to create the public-private partnership that seeks to create systemic shifts in opportunities for urban communities, particularly those communities impacted by racial, social and economic inequality.

She is former president and co-president of The Berkana Institute, which she joined in 2004. Berkana is a Spokane-based non-profit dedicated