The most powerful person in politics today happens to be a woman, happens to be an African American woman, and we can’t be prouder to say she happens to come from the South Side of Chicago. Minyon Moore is a force to be reckoned with. She’s articulate, informed, organized, and powerful. She has the drive, the magic that we’ve noticed is so emblematic of individuals from the South Side of Chicago.
Today, Minyon Moore is one of the nation’s top strategic thinkers and Chair of the Democratic National Convention.
Minyon attended Chicago Vocational High School (CVS) located on the far South Side of Chicago. It was there that her future began to take place. She tells us that one of her instructors told her and two other young women that if they wrote an essay about Rev. Jesse Jackson and PUSH, they would receive an A on their paper. That was the beginning of her relationship with Reverend Jesse Jackson and PUSH (People United to Serve Humanity).
After authoring her essay and receiving an A, Minyon began working at PUSH, as Reverend Willie Barrow’s assistant. Her foray into politics began when Reverend Jesse Jackson decided to run for President of the United States. Minyon was an organizer for his 1984 campaign, but for his second run in 1987, she was the National Deputy Field Director. In 1989 she became the Development Director of the National Rainbow Coalition. Minyon has a keen understanding of politics and an admirable ability to develop effective political strategies with little effort, making her a valuable asset to any political campaign, Governor Mike Dukakis learned of her political skills, and she became his national deputy field director.
One great position led to another as her strategical skills and talent became known throughout DC, leading her to work in such positions as assistant to the President of the United States in President Bill Clinton’s administration, and quickly moving up to become the director of the White House Office of Public Liaison, and subsequently, the director of White House political affairs.
Her ascension didn’t stop after Bill Clinton’s presidency ended. She went on to become the chief operating officer of the Democratic National Committee, and later moved up to chief executive officer of the DNC.
In 2008 she became senior political consultant to the 2008 Hillary Rodham Clinton presidential campaign and was considered a member of Secretary Clinton’s inner circle “Hillaryland.”
She serves on the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee, and she is on the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation’s board of directors.
In 2020 she became a member of the advisory council of the Biden-Harris Transition Teach, which planned the presidential transition of Joe Biden.
Minyon advised President Joe Biden on naming the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice. and as DNC Chair, released a compelling, heartfelt statement after President Biden declined the presidential nomination.
Although she’s known for her political savvy and strategical genius, politics isn’t all she does. She graduated from Boston University’s Film school with a certificate in digital filmmaking and she has a coveted seat on the board of the Writers’ Guild Foundation with other giants in the film industry such as Shonda Rhimes, Matthew Weiner, and Sally Wilcox.
Minyon is personable, down-to-earth and in spite of being the most sought-after political strategist in the nation, she is extremely approachable. Not one to keep her gifts to herself, she loves sharing her wisdom with others, especially other Black women.
Minyon and a group of African American women who, in the words of columnist Matt Bai, “have reached the highest echelons of Democratic politics,” formed an informal group called “Colored Girls.” Others describe them as “the four most powerful African American women in politics.” These four powerful women came together to share the story of their friendship and how it has changed politics in America in a very readable and enjoyable book titled, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics.”
Her great talent and immeasurable strategic skills have not gone unrewarded. She was named as the Most Influential Leader by Rainbow Push, and she was named one of the 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington by Washington magazine. She was the winner of the Tin Cup award by Washington Government Relations Group for her “proven commitment to the enrichment of African American government relations professionals,” and was honored with the Spirit of Democracy Award from the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation award given to leaders who are unselfishly dedicated to education, social and economic justice.
Each year an Uncommon Height Award is presented to one or more individuals who have achieved uncommon heights in excellence of service to others. Awardees are recognized for their ability to exceed far beyond oneself in the same spirit and tradition of Dr. Dorothy Heights.
In 2018 she received the American Association of Political Consultants’ Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the AAPC Hall of Fame.
In a few weeks, we’ll get to see another example of Minyon’s political and organizational expertise as she undertakes the daunting task of organizing the Democratic National Convention in her beloved hometown of Chicago.
