For three decades, Turahn Dorsey has been a leader in systems change and civic innovation. His work sits at the intersection of education, health, housing, and economic development—both in Boston and nationally—and reflects his deep passion for strengthening and connecting communities. As President and CEO of the Eastern Bank Foundation, he and the team focus on accelerating economic mobility and expanding economic inclusion across Eastern Massachusetts, Southern New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Rahn began his career as a public policy researcher at Moore and Associates in Southfield, Michigan and Abt Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts, supporting national, community-led health and anti-poverty initiatives. After 13 years at Abt, he joined the Barr Foundation as its first Director of Evaluation and a Senior Program Officer for Education.

In 2014, Mayor Martin J. Walsh appointed Rahn Chief of Education for the City of Boston. In this role, he co-led the design of Boston’s Universal Pre-K system, launched early planning for the City’s $1 billion school construction initiative, and spearheaded efforts to redesign high school learning experiences while expanding summer learning and postsecondary opportunities. 

In recent years, Rahn has devoted significant attention to amplifying the vitality of Boston’s historic Nubian Square. As board chair of Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology, he has worked with college leadership, public partners, and the community to open the school’s new headquarters in Roxbury in January 2026. He is also collaborating with local entrepreneurs and investors to launch the Jazz Urbane Café—a state-of-the-art performance venue and full-service restaurant—at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building.

Finally, Rahn is a founding member of Movement Family Farm in New Hampshire, a collective of ten Afro-descended people committed to building an ecologically and economically regenerative farm.