Whitley Yates is the Director of Diversity and Engagement at the Indiana Republican Party
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Mar. 21, 2022) – Whitley Yates, the Director of Diversity and Engagement at the Indiana Republican Party, has been named a 2022 Trailblazer by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and will receieve the organization's Emerging Leader award.
The Emerging Leader award is presented annual by the RNC to individuals who demonstrate attributes in promoting Republican Party principles through being a leader in their organization, community, or state.
“There is perhaps no one more deserving of this award than Whitley,” stated Kyle Hupfer, chairman of the Indiana Republican Party. “She has played an integral role in helping us build coalitions and authentic relationships among diverse communities, and in the process, has helped empower the next generation of government and political leaders.”
Whitley will receive the award tomorrow in Arlington, Va., along with other 2022 Trailblazers Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears and Bob Woodson, who will receive the Trailblazer award and Legacy award, respectively.
“To receive this award alongside Lt. Gov. Sears and Bob Woodson is a true honor,” stated Whitley. “This journey has been unforgettable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to impact the lives of so many and to help grow our party in such a meaningful way.”
Dr. Ben Carson and Dr. Jerome Adams were named Trailblazers in 2021.
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Whitley Yates is an award-winning publicist, entrepreneur, and political power player currently serving as the Director of Diversity and Engagement at the Indiana Republican Party, the first person to hold the position.
Her political experience began in college at Indiana University, where she served as the president of her residence hall for four years. Following her passion for politics, she successfully managed a campaign to elect the third Black student body president in the university’s history. Using this experience as a springboard, she furthered her political skills by managing her first major campaign in Los Angeles, serving as a consultant for mayoral candidate Marc Little.
Returning home to Indiana, Whitley began organizing in her community, focusing on communicating conservative principles to the Black community. She hosted a community show titled Yeah, I Said It, which garnered thousands of views, uncovered corruption within the local Democrat Party, and won the “Best News Podcast” award from PopCon.
In her role as the Director of Diversity and Engagement at the Indiana Republican Party, Whitley launched the Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series, a seminar and leadership training program that aims to attract, train, and support minority Republicans across Indiana. She has placed an emphasis on creating coalitions and building authentic relationships, leading the program to become nationally recognized and successful at all levels of Republican politics in Indiana.
Whitley is the founder and owner of The Niche Agency, a public relations and advertising firm specializing in multicultural marketing and storytelling. Over the past decade, she has helped shape the identity of major brands across the fashion and entertainment industries. Whitley has worked with Motions Hair Care, launched a national campaign in Macy’s, and executed the cover of Essence Magazine in 2019, which featured Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
Whitley’s approach is unique, deviating from traditional media and focusing on strategic, creative concepts. Whitley has built a career in creating culture-shifting moments. In February of 2022, her photoshoot, which honored the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, went viral, garnering millions of views having been amplified by celebrities such as Viola Davis, India Arie, and Megan Good.
Prior to joining the Indiana Republican Party, Whitley worked in new development real estate, overseeing multi-million-dollar construction endeavors.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies and a minor in legal studies from Indiana University Bloomington and is currently an Indiana University McKinney School of Law J.D. candidate.
Whitley is an alumnus of the Indiana Leadership Forum and is active in her community as a board member of the Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce, American Marketing Association, as well as a member of the Public Relations Society of America.
For a headshot of Whitley, click here.