Ebonie Riley
DC Bureau Chief of National Action Network
Ebonie Riley currently serves as DC Bureau Chief of National Action Network’s Washington, DC Bureau. She is the only woman and the youngest Bureau Chief of any civil rights organization’s Washington Bureau. In this capacity, Ms. Riley serves as a conduit for information about what is happening in the halls of Congress, in the office and administration of the President and in the chamber of the United States Supreme Court. Moreover, she and her team work to educate lawmakers and other stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities, by advocating for more resources and policies that help invest and advance economic and social equality in our communities.
The function of the Bureau is to advocate for and influence Federal public policy that reflects the needs and desires of the communities we serve based on the Action Agenda set forth by our national board and senior leadership.
Ebonie’s government affairs portfolio includes criminal justice, telecom policy, diversity and inclusion, federal sentencing reform, ending racial profiling, equal employment protection, access to comprehensive healthcare, immigration, access to quality education, women’s rights, environmental justice, voting rights protection, housing, among other various issues that impact social and economic status, mobility, prosperity and empowerment of urban and underserved communities.
Prior to this role, she served as the Bureau’s Research and Policy Associate, analyzing legislation, drafts advocacy strategies, develops policy recommendations and monitors policy developments related to federal, state and local legislation while co-managing NAN’s Social Media.
As an organizer/activist she has helped organized several events and marches including coordinating/managing NAN’s 2015-2018 National Convention, NAN’s events in Baltimore, MD after the death of Freddie Gray, the Justice For All March in December 2014, NAN’s Legislative & Policy Conferences in 2014-2018, the National Action to Realize the Dream Rally and March in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington with over 200,000 people in attendance and Justice For Trayvon 100 City Vigil in Washington, D.C. both in 2013, and the 1,000 Ministers March For Justice where over 3,000 faith leaders marched to recommit their dedication to protecting civil rights in August 2017.
Born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Severn, Maryland, Ms. Riley graduated from Ft. Meade Senior High School and attended UMBC (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) where she graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in History. While at UMBC; she served as President of Africana Studies Council of Majors while sitting on several academic research teams that focused on civil rights, voting rights, political behavior and attitudes, identity politics, race and representation, Congress, and elections. Specific interests include political engagement, civil rights law, voter turnout, voter suppression, and identity group politics.
