Waikinya Clanton

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Waikinya Clanton

Director, African American and Women's Outreach
Democratic National Committee
Website


Waikinya J.S. Clanton, MBA serves as the Director of African American and Women's Outreach for the Democratic National Committee, where she leads the Party's latest initiative to engage and organize with Black women through its Seat at the Table tour. Clanton was one of the lead operatives on the Party's 2017 electoral victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and Alabama. She is a nationally sought-after political operative, strategist and thought leader, having spent more than a decade as a trusted advisor to local, state and federal elected officials. She previously served as the National Executive Director for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women), where she proudly reestablished the organization’s training fellowship for Black women interested in the political, corporate or nonprofit leadership via its Leadership Training and Educational Development Institute and created its signature STEM training program for young Black girls, Girls, Gigabytes, and Gadgets (3G). She began her career in government, serving as a personal staffer to Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, where she was his trusted aid on constituent based issues and manager of special projects. During her tenure on Capitol Hill, she also served as President of the Congressional Black Associates, co-coordinator of the Deltas on the Hill network and member of the African American Women on the Hill network. She was most recently appointed by the 26th National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. to serve as a member of its National Social Action Commission, where she advises on the organization's national policy priorities and engagement strategies. In addition to her various professional endeavors, Ms. Clanton serves as a member of the leadership council and ambassador of the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute, an alumna of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s Political Boot Camp training program as well as an alumna of the Women's Campaign School at Yale University. Founder of the Power of the PUMP, women’s empowerment network, and former Bonner’s Scholar, Clanton was recently selected as a fellow in the American Council of Young Political Leadership International Exchange program and recognized for her works as an inaugural recipient of the "Activating Our Agenda" award given by the Global Black History Honors. Clanton's recognitions, honors, and awards include: United Negro College Fund with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award National Action Network with the Action and Authority Award Tougaloo College, "Top 40 under 40" Award Congressional Black Associate's Christine Ray Davis Trailblazer Award emPOWER magazine's emPOWER Players award Waikinya is a profound advocate for pay equality and advancement of women and girls. She has her bachelors in Sociology and a Masters in Business Administation. She is a proud woman of faith and is a member of the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.