Adrienne W. Cochrane, J.D.

Adrienne has devoted her nonprofit career to serving traditionally under-resourced and underrepresented individuals, families and communities.  Her work is passionately centered in achieving racial and gender equity and social justice for all by disrupting and dismantling inequitable systems.

In her current role as CEO of YWCA Hartford Region since April 2018, Adrienne engages a 9-member Leadership Team to achieve mission-critical goals and lasting impact for women, youth and families.

Adrienne and her team are, among other things, leveraging community and stakeholder relationships to expand programs and services in Hartford and surrounding towns. During her tenure, the organization has added community engagement and advocacy initiatives and spring and summer camp youth programming. They are the lead community organization for a multi-million-dollar initiative for transforming communities in Hartford. In late 2019, the association received nine million dollars, the largest donation in the 159-year history of YWCA Hartford Region. And has secured ownership of the headquarters building in Hartford and over 7 million in funding to transform the space into The Center for Community Engagement and Impact. She and her team strive to create a community of unlimited opportunities to un-limit opportunities.

Prior to joining YWCA, Adrienne served the National Urban League Movement from 2004 to 2018 in senior leadership and executive positions.

Adrienne serves on several boards, including Teach for America-Connecticut and Brother Carl Hardrick Institute. She was appointed to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Authority by Senate President Pro Tempore, Martin M. Looney and serves on the Governor’s Council for Women and Girls. Adrienne previously served on the Governor’s Youth and Urban Violence Commission.  She is currently serving on the Advisory Board to the CEO of YWCA USA, Margaret Mitchell in addition to Board of Directors for YWCA USA and YWCA Hartford Region.

Adrienne was conferred Bachelor and Master Degrees in Political Science and Counseling, respectively, from Tuskegee University and a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law.

She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her commitment to social justice and community service, including: Hartford Business Journal’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Top 25 Women of Business Award, Urban League of Greater Hartford Community Service Award, Woman of Power Awards from National Urban League and Urban League of Southern Connecticut, 100 Women of Color, 100 Most Influential Blacks in Connecticut by the Connecticut NAACP, and the Distinguished Leadership and Community Service Award from Hartford Communities that Care.