Ameshia Cross

Ameshia has significant experience working in communications and advocacy campaigns in her hometown, Chicago and nationwide, with roles focused on education, environment and healthcare policy initiatives. An experienced professional with a background in P-12 education, Cross most recently served as national director of policy and external relations at the National Black Child Development Institute, an advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. In this role she regularly led legislative briefings on Capitol Hill and interfaced with policymakers.

Previously, Cross served as manager of government affairs for the Noble Network of Charter Schools in Illinois. In addition to designing and implementing advocacy strategies, Cross tracked legislation and worked to build relationships among local, state, and congressional leaders.

During her tenure at Noble, Cross was tapped by Organizing for America to lead a fellowship program in Chicago that taught selected fellows the key components of effective advocacy, with a particular focus on service initiatives designed to counter gun and gang violence.

Cross also led advocacy efforts as part of Illinois’ sanctuary movement to limit local law enforcement from actions based on immigration status, and delivered testimony before Congress on gun policy.

A Chicago native, Cross has worked as a campaign consultant and a communications lead for elected officials at the city and state levels. She also was a White House fellow and served as an editorial staffer for former Vice President Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth. In addition, Cross has worked with progressive organizations that include the National Urban League, the Truman National Security Project, the Rainbow Push Coalition, and the NAACP.

Cross holds a B.A. in political science and journalism from Belmont University and a master’s in public administration from Roosevelt University.