Vladimir Epshteyn is a longtime human rights advocate, civic leader, and champion of immigrant communities. After enduring imprisonment by the KGB for his activism, he immigrated to the United States in 1992 with the help of U.S. governmental and human rights organizations. Soon after arriving in New York, he became deeply engaged in Russian-speaking Jewish community life, dedicating himself to building inclusive, empowered immigrant communities.

From 1992 to 2008, Epshteyn worked as a community organizer for the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. In 1994, he founded the Metropolitan Russian-American Parents Association, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting families through educational advocacy—a role he continues to hold as president. That same year, he was appointed the first Russian-speaking board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, serving for six consecutive years.

Vladimir founded the Russian-American Voters Educational League in 1998 to increase civic engagement among immigrants. He later served on the board of the New York Immigration Coalition (2005–2020), cosponsored the creation of the international human rights movement World without Nazism in 2010, and currently serves as Vice President of the Assembly of the World Diasporas.

Honored by the NYC Council in 2002 as “New American of the Year,” Vladimir Epshteyn remains an active, full-time volunteer, dedicating his life to justice, democracy, and the empowerment of immigrant communities.