Tamara V. Lewis serves as the Director of State Advocacy for NACDL. In this capacity, Tamara manages NACDL’s day-to-day grassroots advocacy operations and coordinates NACDL’s efforts to mobilize its members, individuals and organizations in support of NACDL’s policy objectives. This includes assisting in the preparation of advocacy materials for NACDL activists and affiliates; preparing and disseminating federal and state action alerts regarding pending legislation; monitoring and tracking state legislation on priority issues; initiating and coordinating lobby meetings between NACDL members and Members of Congress; coordinating other grassroots lobby events; facilitating state-level coalition building with influential community members and organizations; and coordinating state-level legislative reform campaigns.
Tamara has nine years of professional experience in government relations and advocacy. Prior to joining NACDL, she served as a Magistrate in Virginia, Senior Director of Policy at the African American Mayors Association, and advocate at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Through her work, she has partnered with and built relationships with partners at Target, Microsoft, Meta, Axon, the U.S. Cannabis Council, and other industry leaders.
Tamara was awarded the Mason Civil Rights scholarship at the University of the District of Columbia, School of Law. There, she represented justice-involved minors as part of the Youth Justice Clinic and worked as a legislative analyst for DC Mayor Vincent Gray as part of the Legislation Clinic. Tamara is also a proud Cavalier, having graduated as a double major from the University of Virginia.
Within her community, Tamara is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In her free time, Tamara is active in the Scholarship Committee with her church and loves to travel - having visited over 15 countries.
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