Kalitha Williams, Director

For over 20 years, Kalitha Williams has built a service-focused career advocating and elevating the voices of overlooked communities.   As a lifelong Buckeye, she was nurtured in the Driving Park neighborhood and is a proud graduate of Columbus City Schools.   As Director of CPI, Kalitha brings vision and leadership to ensuring the future of Columbus is for everyone.

Kalitha began her career in the prestigious Ohio Legislative Service Commission Fellowship Program.  She has proven experience in advocacy, policy analysis, and community engagement from her leadership positions with the Ohio House of Representatives, the Columbus Urban League, Policy Matters Ohio and AARP. Her public policy achievements include establishing an Ohio Earned Income Tax Credit, thwarting unscrupulous business and lending practices, and instituting statewide critical nursing home reforms. 

Demonstrating authentic community service, Kalitha served in leadership as the founding Vice President of the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, inaugural member for the Create Columbus Commission, founding steering committee member of the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network, Political Action Committee Chair of the Ohio Conference of the NAACPs, and member of the board for the Consumer Federation of America.

Kalitha graduated from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Policy and Political Leadership Institute. She received her Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Denison University.