Nieka Thompson serves as the Director of the Racial Justice Project at the Center for Children’s Advocacy (CCA), where she leads statewide initiatives to address systemic racial disparities and advance justice for youth. Her work centers on the belief that achieving true safety and equity requires transformational change—moving away from punitive systems and investing in the full scope of resources youth need to thrive.

Prior to joining CCA, Attorney Thompson served as Assistant Legal Director for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), where she supervised area office legal staff, contributed to agency policy development, and co-led the Statewide Racial Justice Workgroup’s Policy and Practice Subcommittee. She also coordinated training efforts for the legal division, promoting equity and trauma-informed approaches across the department.

Earlier in her career, Attorney Thompson spent over 12 years at Connecticut Legal Services, practicing in the areas of special education, child protection, and family law. She also co-chaired Waterbury’s Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee, working to ensure fair and just treatment of youth across intersecting systems.