December 9 …

Stacey Abrams is a lawyer, author, voting-rights activist, and political leader whose organizing and public work have shaped contemporary American civic life and cultural conversations.

Born on December 9, 1973 in Madison, WI and raised largely in Gulfport, MS, Abrams graduated magna cum laude from Spelman College and went on to earn a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas. She followed up with a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Abrams began her career as a tax attorney and later served as Atlanta’s deputy city attorney before being elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2006. With her election, she made history as the first Black woman to lead a party caucus as minority leader.

Abrams’ achievements include founding the New Georgia Project to register and mobilize voters of color and established Fair Fight Action to combat voter suppression. She has authored several bestselling books such as Minority Leader and Our Time Is Now, and also wrote romantic suspense novels under the pen name Selena Montgomery.

Abrams played a pivotal role in driving record voter turnout that influenced the outcomes of Georgia’s 2020 presidential and Senate races. Her honors include the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, a feature on the Time 100 list, nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, and recognition from the Emmy Awards and American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Abrams draws inspiration from influential civic and political figures throughout her education and early career, including Maynard Jackson, whose Office of Youth Services provided her with a formative role in Atlanta. She has collaborated with contemporaries and peers such as Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, Stacey Evans, and Lauren Groh-Wargo. Her work has also inspired many leaders from the New Georgia Project and Fair Fight teams, several of whom gained prominence during Georgia’s organizing surge from 2020 to 2021.

Beyond electoral politics, Abrams’ cultural impact resonates in entertainment and society. She has enhanced the visibility of civic engagement through her speaking engagements, books, and television appearances, including a voice-acting Emmy nomination. She has fostered connections between political organization and creative communities, notably through fundraising events with authors.

Stacey Abrams has significantly shaped national discussions on race, representation, and democratic participation. Her efforts have earned her widespread recognition for transforming the political and cultural landscape.