Most Interesting and Influential 2006: Willard Walker

 Willard Walker, former City of Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department Director and State of Michigan Executive, has joined Public Policy Associates (PPA) as Senior Policy Consultant.
   Willard Walker most recently served as Director of Human Relations and Community Services for the City of Lansing, a mayoral cabinet position.  As Director, Walker’s work included founding and leading the “Mayor’s Initiative on Race and Diversity,” a program that brings together community agencies, educators, civil rights organizations and ethnic groups to work to address race and ethnicity concerns in the Lansing area.
         Walker also worked as the principal partner in the W.K.W. Consultant Group, where his primary clients were the C.S. Mott Foundation and the State of Michigan. 
    Walker’s consulting work with the C.S. Mott Foundation included working with the Flint Community Schools on general improvement issues, working with major Flint agencies to implement a community-wide anti-racism strategy, and serving as a capacity building assistant to community organizations.
     Walker’s consulting work helped the State of Michigan recruit and retain African American teachers and other employees for urban districts, as well as assisting the state with urban districts curriculum development. 
     Prior to his work as a consultant, Mr. Walker worked in a variety of positions for the State of Michigan, including work in Vocational Rehabilitation Services with the State Department of Education, Employment and Training with the Department of Labor, Director of the Office of Business and Education Coordination, Director of the State’s School to Work Initiative under the Michigan Jobs Commission, and Human Resources Director for Michigan’s Commerce Department. 
       Walker also previously worked for the Birmingham, Alabama Urban League, and as a math teacher for Chicago Public Schools. 
       Walker received two Masters Degrees from Michigan State University, in Labor and Industrial Relations and Urban Counseling.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Science Education from Albany State University, Albany, Georgia.
         Walker’s community involvement includes mentoring children of the Lansing School District, coaching little league football, and serving as a member of several professional organizations.  Walker also previously served on the Lansing Board of Police Commissioners.