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Women to Know 2020, Kimberly Peeler-Allen

Source: iOne Creative Team / other

Kimberly Peeler-Allen

Co-Founder, Higher Heights 

Kimberly Peeler-Allen recalls her experience in the 8th grade when she had a history teacher that required her class to analyze political cartoons that were in the Washington Post every Sunday, as the moment that really made her begin to pay attention to politics. Peeler-Allen’s parents had always talked about politics prior to that moment, but engaging in civics education in school is what actually connected the dots. 

 Peller-Allen went on to forge a prolific career at the intersection of race, gender and politics, having worked in finance, political and non-profit fundraising, and more. Eventually, she and her colleague, Glynda Carr, founded Higher Heights For America PAC, a network of over 90,000 members, donors, and activists across the country that has helped elect Black women to various political offices. 

Glynda and I founded Higher Heights because we saw through our own work in politics that there was a need to focus on the political needs of Black women whether it be as voters, activists, operatevies, candidates or elected officials. There was no organization in the ecosystem that was looking solely at the needs of Black women,” Peeler-Allen tells MadameNoire. 

To date, Higher Heights has helped elect 10 Black women to Congress, one Black woman to the senate, and several Black women to a number of statewide executive offices around the country.  Some of its victories include Kamala Harris, Ilhan Omar, Vi Lyles, London Breed, and more. 

It is very humbling. When you set out to shift paradigms you know it’s hard and you can’t do it alone,” says Peeler-Allen. “I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who are icons in the civil and women’s rights movements. To know that they are looking to learn from me as I am looking to learn from them is mindblowing.” 

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