Jehmu Greene

Jehmu Greene began her political career in Texas, working both as Executive Director of the Texas Young Democrats and with Governor Ann Richards' 1994 campaign. Her early experiences shaped her lifelong dedication to enhancing democratic engagement and civil discourse.

Beginning in 1998, Greene took on significant roles such as Director of Women’s Outreach and Southern Political Director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Throughout her career, Greene has been involved in more than twenty political campaigns at the local, state, and national levels, including her advisory work during Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.

In 2000, Greene advanced her mission to mobilize young voters by becoming president of Rock the Vote. Under her leadership, the organization pioneered the first online voter registration tool, dramatically boosting membership from 1,500 to 1 million and registering 1.4 million new voters. This effort led to an unprecedented 11% increase in youth voter turnout between two presidential elections. She then served as National Director of Project Vote before heading the Women’s Media Center, where she continued to influence media advocacy.

In 2010, after being appointed by then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve on the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, Greene further broadened her scope of influence. She joined FOX News Channel as a progressive political analyst in November 2010, bringing a critical voice to a broad audience.

Building on her experience, Greene co-founded Define American in 2011, a nonprofit aimed at enriching the national conversation about immigration and identity. In 2014, she became President of WakaWaka North America, focusing on delivering solar power solutions to those living without electricity. She also became a founding board member of VoteRunLead.

Greene's numerous accolades include the Community Service Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice, and recognition as one of Essence Magazine's 40 Women Under 40 Shaping the World. In 2017, Greene utilized her extensive background in leadership and advocacy by running for Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Currently, as a Distinguished Fellow at the Athena Center for Leadership at Barnard College and the founder of Barbara’s Legacy, Greene actively contributes to political and social discourse both as a speaker and a media commentator. Her ongoing roles reflect her commitment to fostering informed and engaged communities.