Ciara Mackey-Hall was born and raised in Washington, D.C. As a native Washingtonian, she was born with an innate sense of curiosity and desire to understand the intersection of race, local vs. national politics, and the power of community. This curiosity led her to pursue and Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Temple University and a Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership from Johns Hopkins University.
Ciara has served as a member of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® team since 2018, rising in the ranks from local program administrator where she oversaw operations for a number of D.C. based CDF Freedom Schools sites, to Senior Administrator of Curriculum and Programs where she currently writes and publishes content for the CDF Freedom Schools research-based and culturally-responsive Integrated Reading Curriculum (IRC). Ciara also plans, supports, and oversees youth-led civic engagement projects related to the CDF Freedom Schools annual National Day of Social Action (NDSA). NDSA is a collective organizing project in which 11,000+ K-12 scholars march, protest, rally, and meet with elected officials to discuss their visions for not only the future, but the present.
Her work exists at the intersection of education for liberation, public policy and advocacy, and community empowerment and preparation. The intersectionality of this work has contributed to the development of the bold, compassionate, caring child advocate she stands before you as today.