Former Boston Mayor Kim Janey landed her next post-mayoral gig as president and CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways, a Boston-based nonprofit that focuses on helping people move out of poverty, the organization announced Monday morning.

A former recipient of support from EMPath, Janey plans to start her new role on June 1, succeeding Beth Babcock, who announced her retirement last year after 16 years leading the nonprofit. Janey is slated to help EMPath’s efforts “to reach more families across the country and improve outcomes for those trying to move out of poverty,” an EMPath statement said.

“Stepping into a leadership role at an organization that transformed my life early on is truly a full-circle moment and makes this transition even more exciting,” Janey said. “I’m proud to continue the work I’ve done for much of my career — building and strengthening communities and advocating for children and families.”

EMPath Board Chair Rob Reilly said the organization is in a pivotal moment as it works towards providing people in poverty the tools, skills, and support they need to get out of it for good.

“With Mayor Janey’s deep understanding of the issue and longstanding commitment to serving her community, we know she’s the right person to get us there,” Reilly said.

EMPath hopes to serve one million people “in the coming years” through its Economic Mobility Exchange — a learning network with over 150 service organizations across the country — and has raised $10 million over the past two years to achieve that goal.

The organization says it is best known for its Mobility Mentoring model, a coaching method for people in poverty to “climb the economic ladder.”

“Since its launch over a decade ago, the model has helped families with low incomes to double and even triple their incomes, unlocking opportunities to access stable housing, get advanced degrees and good jobs, save money, and more,” EMPath said in a statement.

Janey took over the city’s executive office as the first woman and first Black mayor of Boston after President Joe Biden tapped former Boston Mayor Martin Walsh as secretary of labor in 2021. She mounted an unsuccessful bid to hold onto the seat, losing that year’s preliminary elections after securing only 20% of the vote.

Janey later served on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s transition team as honorary chair. She was first elected to Boston City Council in 2017 as the first woman to represent District 7 and was later elected to serve as City Council president.

Babcock said the EMPath is fortunate to have a “proven trailblazer for racial and economic justice step into the role of president and CEO.”

“I have no doubt that her decades of experience will allow the organization to reach even more families across the world with our life-changing coaching approach,” Babcock said.

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