Eric Walker Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

As Executive Director of Stakeholder Communications, I lead a team of 10 professionals handling internal and digital communications for one of the largest school Districts in the country, keeping students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, school board members, and many others informed about everything going on with Chicago Public Schools!Beyond the day-to-day communications responsibilities, I develop, project-manage, and execute major communications initiatives including the District’s strategic plan rollout, COVID-19 response and vaccination campaign, ongoing relations with the Board of Education and City Council, labor negotiations, annual budget rollout, back to school campaign, summer programming campaign, annual reporting of student success metrics, and more. I also provide critical strategic messaging guidance & material to senior leaders during high-profile moments and crises.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

In this role, I scripted, produced, edited, and placed TV and digital ads for high-profile political clients including Warnock for Georgia, Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, House Majority PAC, and others. I provided strategic communications guidance to clients on campaign decision-making, message development and execution, research and polling analysis, message targeting, and tactics to maximize the impact of the campaign’s communications.

200 E Colfax, Denver Co

As lead speechwriter for Governor Jared Polis of Colorado, I played a key role in message development and crisis communications strategy for the Administration. I also served as speechwriter for the Lt. Governor and the 1st Gentleman. Key accomplishments include:-Wrote 12-15 speeches per week (900+ total), including major addresses such as the State of the State and a prime-time televised address to the state on COVID-19. -Throughout COVID-19 crisis, authored speeches and visual presentations for the Governor’s daily COVID press briefings to provide clear, accurate, life-saving information to Coloradans and inspire the public to meet the challenge of the moment.-Worked with Governor and fellow senior staff members on message development and strategic decision-making.-Wrote and placed over 40 op-eds from principals and surrogates in outlets across Colorado.

Greater Denver Area

As Communications Director for the Colorado Democratic Party, I worked closely with Democratic campaigns -- especially Polis for Colorado's successful gubernatorial campaign -- to get Democrats elected up-and-down the ballot by working with media outlets in Colorado, managing the party's twitter account, and finding creative ways to hold Republicans accountable. In the 2018 election cycle, Democrats kept the governorship, flipped every other state-wide elected position, flipped the State Senate, and expanded our majority in the State House of Representatives.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As Deputy Communications Director for the Democratic National Committee, I oversaw our regional and specialty media communications efforts. My role was to help elect Democrats up and down the ticket by holding Republican politicians and right-wing groups accountable in the media.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I served as the Western Regional Press Secretary for the DNC and also handled Native American and Jewish constituency press for the DNC.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

I served as Communications Director for the Democrats on the House Rules Committee and Representative Louise M. Slaughter of Rochester, NY, acting as the on-the-record spokesperson for both offices.

Rochester, New York Area

I was the Communications Director on Congresswoman Slaughter's successful re-election campaign.

Queens, Ny

I worked in the official office until Assemblyman Lancman ran for Congress in New York's 6th District. After that, I was the Communications Director for the campaign

Albany, New York Area

I worked as a writer and communications specialist working for the Democratic caucus in the New York State Assembly. I wrote press releases, talking points, direct mail pieces, columns, op-eds, speeches, and other written copy for Assembly Democrats

I worked on state legislative races handling a myriad of campaign responsibilities, mostly in communications.

• Researched and provided formal answers to clients’ questions regarding labor laws• Prepared detailed dossiers and position papers outlining labor and employment law in foreign countries

• Reported and wrote articles for both Features and Opinion sections• Secured the Luther Rice Fellowship Grant from G.W. to conduct research in Jakarta• Performed participant-observation research and interviewed journalists and editors about Indonesian media coverage of terrorism and the Israel-Palestine conflict

• Selected salient political video content for a daily direct email campaign• Updated website using Adobe Dreamweaver and constructed widgets for clients• Researched news outlets, interest groups, PACs, and other potential clients

• Determined level of media bias in Iraq War coverage• Analyzed content of coverage with a partner• Organized findings and drew conclusions from the data

• Performed legislative research• Responded to constituent inquiries regarding the Congressman’s policies• Composed letters to constituents• Guided Capitol tours

Master'S Degree, Political Management

Bachelors, Political Communication

Activities and Societies: Special Honors, Magna Cum Laude Larry King Scholarship Recipient Luther Rice Research Fellow Golden Key Honour.