A’shanti F. Gholar

A’shanti F. Gholar is the President & CEO of Emerge, the nation’s largest network of women elected officials and candidates. Before the pandemic, A’shanti became the first Black woman to lead Emerge in February 2020. But she wasn’t new to the Emerge family then. A’shanti grew up in Las Vegas and co-founded Emerge Nevada in 2006–crediting Emerge Nevada’s success in building the first majority-woman state legislature in the country as one of the reasons her nieces and nephews are growing up in a better Nevada. 

She went on to be named Emerge’s national political director in 2016. As political director, A’shanti expanded Emerge’s strategy to include the South, seeing it as fertile ground for Democrats. As president, she led the organization in pivoting to center the women of the New American Majority – Black, Brown, and Indigenous women and women of color, as well as LGBTQ+, young, and unmarried women – a political force for winning elections in this country and who deserve better representation in office. 

Under A’shanti’s leadership, Emerge has experienced unprecedented growth and success. With affiliates in over two dozen states, more than 1,200 alums in office, and over 6,000 Democratic women trained to run for office and win, Emerge has become a force to be reckoned with in the political landscape. A’shanti’s vision and strategic direction have been instrumental in this journey. 

Before coming home to Emerge, A’shanti was a grassroots organizer and activist for women, communities of color, and progressive causes for over 20 years. She has experience building coalitions, developing programs, and engaging in community and political engagement. Before Emerge, A’shanti served as the National Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Director of African American Engagement for the Democratic National Committee. A’shanti has also served as the Manager of National Partnerships for United Way Worldwide, a political appointee in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Director of Public Engagement for the 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee in Charlotte, NC.

A’shanti’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized by She The People as one of the women of color in politics who would play an impactful role in the 2020 elections and beyond. Her influence has been featured in CQ Roll Call Magazine, and she has been named a top woman of color in policy by Walker’s Legacy. Her dedication to progressive activism has been acknowledged with the Changemaker Award by African American Women in Business Careers and the Transformational Leader Award by GAIN Power. A’shanti’s role as an Aspen Institute SOAR Fellow, Sisters on the Planet Ambassador for Oxfam America, and an Equity Advisor for Sephora further highlights her commitment to making a difference.

She is also the founder of The Brown Girls Guide to Politics and its award-winning podcast, which was recently recognized by The Guardian as a “practical guide to progressive activism.”