Higher Heights for America (Higher Heights) advocates for increased political participation and voter turnout among Black women. It supports Democratic candidates exclusively. ¹

Higher Heights argues that Black women in America face systemic racism and oppression. ²

Background

Founded in 2011, Higher Heights for America is a left-progressive advocacy organization that campaigns to increase the number of Black women voters and in support of Democratic party candidates. It has a campaign named #BlackWomenVote that campaigns to register Black women to vote and increase their voting rates. It works in in partnership with its sister organizations, Higher Heights Leadership Fund and Higher Heights for America PAC. ³

Higher Heights uses the identity politics concept of intersectionality as its justification for advocating for increased Black women voter involvement and running for elected positions. It argues that Black women suffer from systemic racism and that addressing it requires electing Black women to political office. ⁴

Activities

Higher Heights for America conducts research on Black women voters and elected officials to advocate for increased political participation by Black women, arguing that they have the capacity to be the deciding factor in electing Democratic party candidates. Higher Heights also argues that Black women voters are a key element of the Democratic coalition. ⁵ Its reports also advocate for Black women to be more engaged in political processes. ⁶

In the summer of 2021, Higher Heights held an online training series for aspiring Black women candidates and political organizers. ⁷ It also provides resources for similar training services, referring interested women to a list of left-of-center organizations that have leadership training. ⁸

Higher Heights sells “BlackWomenLead” merchandise through a for-profit company named Higher Heights for America Store. ⁹ Through the store, it also sells merchandise in partnership with the left-progressive The League in Action that celebrates Supreme Court Justice-designate Ketanji Brown Jackson. ¹⁰

In May 2022, Higher Heights published a press release criticizing the possibility that Roe v. Wade would be overturned. It argues that legal access to abortion is necessary so they can be performed safely and are accessible to Black women. It also argues that black women are in greater need of legal abortion services due to their lower below average socioeconomic standing and supposed discrimination and systemic racism. ¹¹

Associated Organizations

Higher Heights for America PAC is Higher Heights’ associated political action committee. Since its inception in 2014, it has exclusively donated to Democratic party candidates, and it supports left-progressive candidates such as Stacey Abrams. ^{12 13}

Higher Heights Leadership Fund is Higher Heights’ sister 501(c)(3) organization. It shares leadership and carries out activities with the same mission as Higher Heights. ¹⁴

Leadership

Glynda Carr is the president, CEO, and cofounder of Higher Heights for America, Higher Heights for America PAC, and Higher Heights Leadership Fund. Her political activism has included advocating for increased voter and political participation by Black women, helping Black female campaigns at various levels, and has served as a contributor to a variety of left-of-center media outlets. ¹⁵

Aprill Turner works as Higher Heights vice president of communications and external affairs. She previously served as press advisor for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), deputy press secretary for Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), and communications director for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). She has also held numerous positions in media strategy for campaigns and for-profit organizations. ¹⁶

Financials

According to Higher Heights for America’s 2019 tax returns, it received $585,000 in contributions. ¹⁷ It also reported spending $166,000 on salaries and had $529,000 in total expenditures. ¹⁸

1. “By the Numbers.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/by-the-numbers/.
2. “Who We Are.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/about/.
3. “Who We Are.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/about/.
4. “By the Numbers.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/by-the-numbers/.
5. “By the Numbers.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/by-the-numbers/.
6. “Reports.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/reports/.
7. “#BlackWomenLead Virtual Political Leadership Training Series.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/summerseries2021/.
8. “#BlackWomenLead Toolkit.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/training-resources/.
9. “Black Women Lead Fall ’21.” Higher Heights For America Store. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://higher-heights-for-america-store.myshopify.com/collections/black-women-lead-fall-21.
10. “Black Women Persevere Scotus ’22.” Higher Heights For America Store. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://higher-heights-for-america-store.myshopify.com/collections/black-women-persevere-scotus-22.
11. “HIGHER HEIGHTS STATEMENT ON LEAKED SUPREME COURT DRAFT THAT WOULD OVERTURN ROE V. WADE.” Higher Heights for America. May 3, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/blog/higher-heights-statement-on-leaked-supreme-court-draft-that-would-overturn-roe-v-wade/
12. Higher Heights for America PAC. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamericapac.org/.
13. “PAC Profile: Higher Heights for America.” OpenSecrets. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/higher-heights-for-america/C00566067/summary/2020.
14. Higher Heights Leadership Fund. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsleadershipfund.org/.
15. “Glynda C. Carr.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/who-we-are/glynda-c-carr/.
16. “Aprill O. Turner.” Higher Heights for America. Accessed June 5, 2022. https://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/who-we-are/aprill-o-turner/.
17. Higher Heights for America. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990O). 2019. Part I, Lines 8- 12.
18. Higher Heights for America. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990O). 2019. Part I, Lines 15-18.