Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute

Background

The Barabara Jordan Leadership Institute was cofounded in Dallas, Texas by activists including Democratic Party political operative Jane Hamilton as a charitable organization in 2019 under the name Barbara Jordan Institute. ^{4 5}

The organization is named for Barbara Jordan, a former Democratic Party member of the Texas Senate and U.S. House of Representatives who represented areas of Houston. ^{2 3}

According to the Barabara Jordan Leadership Institute’s website, the organization works “holistically” and “side by side” with members of the “Black community” to address the “root causes” of racial disparities in health outcomes and the economy. In that vein, the organization also notes in its mission and vision statement its commitment to increase diversity of leadership, by “empowering black communities.” ⁶

Activity

The Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute engages in left-of-center voter mobilization projects in North Texas, East Texas, and the Houston area involving campus outreach efforts, workshops, trainings, and community programs. Particularly, the organization’s East Texas program focuses on mobilizing Black voters in rural areas. ^{1 7}

The organization also supports feminine hygiene product donation drives. ⁶

Advocacy

The Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute engages in legislative advocacy. For instance, the organization has supported legislation extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum women from a period of 60 days to one year.  ⁷

The organization has also supported the expansion of Texas Fibroid Awareness Month, including the expansion of related community programs with health screenings and educational resources to areas including Beaumont, Tyler, Fort Worth, Houston, and Dallas. ⁷

Partners

Through its Leadership Development Program, the Barabara Jordan Leadership Institute has partnered with organizations including the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Houston Lawyers Association, and Peoples Legal Clinic. ⁷

Funding

The Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute has received support from organizations including the Windward Fund, NEO Philanthropy (formerly Public Interest Projects), and Houston in Action Network. ⁷

Leadership

Khanay Turner is the executive director of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute as well as a managing attorney and partner of K.Y. Turner Law Firm, PLLC. Previously, Khanay worked as the chief of staff for Texas State Representative Toni Rose (D-Dallas), executive director of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, political outreach director for the Beto O’Rourke senatorial campaign, and in various positions with the National Park Service, Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Justice, and U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Texas. ^{8 9}

Jane Hamilton is the cofounder and board chair of the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute as well as the vice president of strategic affairs with Mathews Southwest. Previously, she was a legislative aide to then-Texas State Representative Helen Giddings (D-Dallas), professional staff member for former Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX) on the U.S. House Rules Committee, and chief of staff to Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX). ⁵

Mitzi Wallace-Willis is the chair of community engagement and development at the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute as well as the chief executive officer of Primarius Management Services. Previously, she was an appellate law clerk for Judge Carl E. Stewart on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, litigation associate with DeHay and Elliston, principal and owner of The Willis Firm, litigation associate with Husch Blackwell, assistant city attorney with the City of Dallas, and director of practice management, vice president, and chief operating officer with the practice of Charles E Willis II. ^{5 10}

Shellie Hayes-McMahon is the chair of governance at the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute as well as the executive director at Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, board chair-elect of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas, and a board member of organizations including Mama Sana Vibrant Woman and Lift Collective. ⁵