Later , Walters-Clinton would serve as an adult probation officer tasked with reducing recidivism and a juvenile probation officer for the Department of Children , Youth and Families [ DCYF ]. She also served as a racial equity team leader and a co-chair of DCYF ’ s diversity advisory council .
“ SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT IF IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD , SOMEONE NEEDS TO BUILD THAT VILLAGE .”
Kilah Walters-Clinton
A COMMUNITY VISIONARY FOCUSED ON EQUITY
First , Kilah Walters-Clinton sought to divert kids from the school-to-prison pipeline . Later , she worked to usher them out . And now , she ’ s on a mission to take apart that pipeline , bit by systemic bit .
Early in her career , Walters-Clinton , who earned her undergraduate and master ’ s degrees at Providence College , worked as a crisis intervention clinical therapist in Central Falls and Pawtucket .
“ Kids were acting out , and the way schools respond is in a punitive way ,” she says . “ It was just attracting more trauma .”
Walters-Clinton comes from a background of privilege ; her mother stayed at home while her dad worked to support the family , and she attended the private Lincoln School , where she volunteers on the alumni board today . She says she was surprised to meet kids who had never seen the ocean .
“ They needed the most help ; they were
Walters-Clinton lends her expertise on boards for the Providence Shelter for Colored Children and the Economic Progress Institute and was selected for the Rhode Island Foundation ’ s first Equity Leadership Initiative cohort . The mother of three , who is pursuing her doctorate in leadership from Johnson and Wales , also maintains a small advising practice .
Walters-Clinton says she prefers a full schedule of commitments — “ I need places to put my brain so I don ’ t think about laundry and dishes ,” she jokes — and her work hasn ’ t gone unnoticed . Says a nominator who served on a board with Walters- Clinton , “ She understands that if it takes a village to raise a child , someone needs to build that village . She can see opportunities in places where others don ’ t .”
Earlier this year , Walters-Clinton assumed the role as the director of race , equity and community engagement at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services .
“ This role is giving me the opportunity to guide how policy and practices and programs are designed to really help the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders ,” she says . “ I have to be a part of the change , with all this violence that ’ s going on in the world . I hope the work I ’ m doing keeps my kids safe .”
She adds , “ This isn ’ t about Black kids , white kids , Latino kids . This is about our communities . We can no longer be in the business of wasted human capital .” �
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l NOVEMBER 2021 65