Contact Info

Virginia Leadership Institute
Krysta Jones
PO Box 41390
Arlington, VA 22204

Phone:
Contact via Email
Visit our Website

Hours of Operation

Monday through Friday
9am to 5pm

About Us

Founded in 2006, the Virginia Leadership Institute, Inc. (VLI) aims to increase the number of black elected officials in the commonwealth of Virginia through training, mentoring, and networking. Since 2006, the VLI has trained close to 160 future candidates and campaign professionals.

VLI’s training sessions bring together campaign operatives, elected officials, and policy experts to teach critical campaign skills to a future generation of public servants. Our interactive sessions focus on fundraising, grassroots operations, media, public speaking, and data analysis.

Today, there are approximately 250 black elected officials in Virginia, and the VLI aims to increase the number of black elected officials to 500 by 2026. Close to 20% of Virginia’s voting age population is African American, yet Virginia’s black elected officials only represent 8% of the total number of elected officials in Virginia.


Thoughout our history, African Americans were denied the opportunity to participate in the political process despite the promise that our forefathers made to create a democratic nation. The VLI aims to groom African-Americans to serve as elected officials and “Keep America’s Promise”.

Defining Statement

We prepare African Americans to run for elected office and work on political campaigns.