Eleanor Roosevelt

Activist, diplomat, former First Lady of the United States, 1884-1962

Eleanor Roosevelt was one of the most influential political figures and human rights advocates of the 20th century. She served as First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945 – the longest tenure in American history. During that time, she transformed the role of First Lady from a largely ceremonial position into one of active political engagement—holding press conferences, writing a daily newspaper column, and championing causes ranging from women’s rights to workers’ protections. It was in one of her daily newspaper columns she wrote, “Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.” 

Roosevelt’s perspective on justice was deeply rooted in the belief that democracy must be measured by how it treats its most vulnerable people. She believed that economic security was central to justice, emphasizing fair wages, safe working conditions, and opportunities for women and the poor. Her approach to justice was both moral and practical: she argued that freedom and human dignity could not exist without both political rights and social protections. Through her activism, she helped shape a vision of justice that combined compassion, equity, and universal human rights.

Justice Innovation Lab takes a holistic, systems-thinking approach to rethinking justice. At our trainings, we connect justice system actors with directly impacted people to ensure that the solutions our partners are developing are thoughtful and informed by the needs of the communities in which they serve.