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Stacey Walker
Stacey Walker is a political strategist, writer, and former elected official with a lifelong commitment to meaningful civic engagement. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2010. His early exposure to the histories of figures in the civil rights movement helped shape his belief in liberation politics—a vision of justice rooted in dismantling systemic oppression and empowering historically marginalized communities.
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Before entering public office, Walker helped launch the LBA Foundation, a nonprofit that supports at-risk youth. He later worked at the Case Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he collaborated with AOL founder Steve Case on national entrepreneurship initiatives and other philanthropic endeavors. During this time, he also served as a researcher for President Obama's Council on Jobs and Economic Competitiveness, chaired by Steve Case, and as a teaching assistant to MBA students at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.
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Walker would then work on several political campaigns at the congressional, gubernatorial, and presidential levels, including two historic races: President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign and Senator Bernie Sanders’ inspiring 2020 presidential run.
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Prior to running for office, he served as Chief of Staff at Patel Endeavors, where he led strategic communications and supported business development across a diverse portfolio of ventures, including hospitality, private equity, and social impact initiatives.
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In 2016, Walker made history as the first African American elected to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. His tenure was defined by bold leadership on racial justice, police accountability, and systemic reform. He championed the creation of a citizen review board in Cedar Rapids, led implicit bias training for justice system leaders, co-authored the Safe, Equitable, and Thriving Communities report to disrupt cycles of poverty and youth gun violence, and advanced sweeping second-chance initiatives to support formerly incarcerated individuals and their reentry into society. He also founded the county's Office of Sustainability, recognizing the intersection of environmental stewardship and social equity as part of his broader vision for systemic change.
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Today, he leads Sage Strategies, a consulting firm that supports political, nonprofit, and corporate clients across the country. He also serves as a Senior Associate at Huron Consulting Group. He remains active in national movement politics and continues to advocate for progressive change through nonprofit board service and strategic communications in support of movement leaders and change-makers worldwide. He currently serves on the board of the national organization Partners for Justice and the Champions Global Movement for Peace.
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He continues to center his work on building power for marginalized communities and shaping a more just and democratic society. Alongside this work, he leverages his expertise in storytelling to help colleges, universities, and health care institutions craft narratives that inspire philanthropic investment and long-term impact.
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Stacey and his wife Lauren live with their three children, a cat named Storm, and a puppy named Nala.