Attorney Angela Rye
2026 Ella Joe Baker Awardee
Attorney Angela Rye is an award-winning host, lawyer, social justice advocate, and Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy, social impact, and crisis management firm. A self-described "empowermenteur" who embodies what it means to be a "bringer of truth," her no-holds-barred commentary has resonated with audiences worldwide, sparking vital conversations about social justice, politics, culture, and history in America
Attorney Angela Rye
Attorney Angela Rye is an award-winning host, lawyer, social justice advocate, and Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy, social impact, and crisis management firm. A self-described "empowermenteur" who embodies what it means to be a "bringer of truth," her no-holds-barred commentary has resonated with audiences worldwide, sparking vital conversations about social justice, politics, culture, and history in America.
With over two decades of experience in political strategy and advocacy, Angela has worked with every branch of government at municipal, state, and federal levels. She previously served as Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the 112th Congress and as Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security for four years.
She is the proud co-creator of State of the People, which held a streaming event during the president’s Joint Address to Congress garnering more than a million views. The coalition is made up of 200 local and national organizational partners and held a historic 12 city “Power Tour” to align the community around resources, education, empowerment, and relief supporting thousands of citizens.
Working at the intersection of purpose, justice, and equity, Angela works to create opportunities and open doors for her peers and the next generation. She is most proud of her firm’s Professional Development Program that has touched the lives of more than 500 alumni who now work at the highest levels of government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors.
Angela is co-founder of Reasoned Choice Media with Lenard "Charlamagne tha God" McKelvey and co-host of the NAACP Image Award-winning podcast "Native Land Pod." She has been featured across major platforms including The Breakfast Club, The Daily Show, BET, HBO, TV One, CNN, ABC, NBC, and NPR.
Recognized for her honest commentary and advocacy by prominent civil rights organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation where she was the 2025 recipient of the CBC Chair Award, National Urban League, NAACP, and National Action Network, she has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Essence, The Washington Post, Glamour, Le Monde, and Ebony. Her strategic partnerships and coalitions
with Capitol Hill, third-party organizations, and influencers have created award-winning collaborations between major civil and human rights organizations and their corporate and government partners.
Angela currently serves as a board member for Wilberforce University, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Black Futures Lab, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and on the advisory boards of Club 61 and Boon Boona. She holds honorary doctorates from Wiley College and LeMoyne-Owen College. She is also a proud alumnus of University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law.
