Glynda Carr

As president, CEO, and co-founder of Higher Heights for America and Higher Heights Leadership Fund, Glynda C. Carr is at the center of the national movement to grow Black women’s political power from the voting booth to elected office. She is the daughter of immigrants who instilled the values of civic engagement from a very young age — values that she has brought to her work as the former executive director of Education Voters of New York, chief of staff to New York State Senator Kevin Parker (Brooklyn), campaign manager for two of Parker’s successful reelection campaigns, and now at Higher Heights. In 2011, Glynda and Kimberly Peeler-Allen co-founded Higher Heights to address the clear dearth of organizing resources for politically active Black women and the lack of support for those who were considering seeking elected office. Through her leadership, Higher Heights has developed several innovative programs and efforts that have quickly solidified its reputation as the go-to resource and home for Black women's political leadership. Glynda is the co-creator of #BlackWomenLead, a powerful coalition movement that is creating an environment for Black women to run, win and lead, and the Higher Heights-powered #BlackWomenVote, a nonpartisan voter-activism campaign that serves as an independent and trusted voice for Black women’s political concerns. Her work to date has helped to elect 11 Black women to the U.S. Congress--including one to the Senate--and increase the number of Black women holding statewide executive office--including helping to elect the first Black woman to serve as New York State attorney general. She’s expecting that number to grow come November.