Deborah Peterson Small

Deborah Peterson Small is the Executive Director and founder of Break the Chains. Before founding Break the Chains, Ms. Small was Director of Public Policy for the Drug Policy Alliance where she led a variety of community-based initiatives for progressive drug policy reform. She became an ardent advocate for drug policy reform as she became increasingly aware of the grossly disproportionate number of people of color incarcerated for drug offenses. As part of the work of BTC she is privileged to speak regularly to the public, including elected officials, religious, community leaders and parents about issues relating to our government’s failed drug policies. She has also served as Legislative Director for the New York Civil Liberties Union. She is a native New Yorker and a graduate of the City College of New York and Harvard University School of Law.

Ms. Small is assisted by an able staff including interns and volunteers who are committed to addressing this continuing source of racial injustice in poor communities and communities of color.