Valeisha Butterfield-Jones is a political/communications strategist and the co-founder and chair of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), a global non-profit dedicated to promoting positive images of women in entertainment and media, and providing mentoring, scholarships and support to women seeking careers in media.
The daughter of North Carolina Congressman G.K. Butterfield and State Representative Jean Farmer Butterfield, and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, Valeisha spent six years as Executive Director of Russell Simmons’ voter education and youth empowerment organization Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. Before that, she was the Director of Diversity and Inclusiveness for the Alzheimer’s Association.
After becoming a campaign volunteer for presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008, Valeisha went on to work in the Obama administration from 2009-2011 as Deputy Director of Public Affairs for International Trade. In 2012, she served as National Youth Vote Director for the Obama for America re-election campaign.
She was recognized by ESSENCE Magazine as one of its top 40 executives under 40 in 2010, and by the D.C.-based emerging legislative leaders organization IMPACT. And she’s no stranger to the spotlight, drawing lots of attention for her 2011 marriage to Dahntay Jones, who currently plays for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. Read more
