Don Cravins Jr.

Donald R. Cravins Jr. (born July 31, 1972), is a civil rights leader and former Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Cravins currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Urban League.^[1] The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the Urban League collaborates at the national and local levels with community leaders, policymakers, and corporate partners to elevate the standards of living for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. With 90 affiliates serving 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia, the Urban League spearheads the development of social programs and authoritative public policy research, and advocate for policies and services that close the equality gap. At the community level, the National Urban League and its affiliates provide direct services that improve the lives of more than two million people annually.^[2]

Cravins first sought elected office in 2004. On November 2, 2004, he was elected state representative for District 40 in a runoff election where he received 54% of the vote.^[3] When he was elected, he and his father, then state Senator Don Cravins, Sr., made Louisiana history by becoming the first father and son duo to serve in the Louisiana Legislature at the same time. In 2006, Cravins' father resigned from the Louisiana State Senate to become Mayor of Opelousas. Cravins Jr. ran unopposed to fill the unexpired term.^[4] In the October 20, 2007 election, Don Cravins Jr. was re-elected to the Louisiana State Senate and garnered 74 percent of the vote.^[3] He represented Senate District 24 from December 2006 until January 2009. During his tenure in the Senate, Cravins served as Chair of the Insurance Committee, Vice Chair of the Retirement Committee and as an active member of the Juvenile Justice Commission of Louisiana.

In 2006, Cravins was selected to serve as King Toussaint L'Ouverture, XLVIII by the Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival, Inc. in Lafayette, Louisiana.^[5]

In the 2008 congressional elections, Cravins unsuccessfully ran as the Democratic candidate for Louisiana's 7th congressional district seat held by Republican U.S. Representative Charles Boustany Jr. In addition to Boustany, Cravins faced Constitution Party candidate Peter Vidrine. Boustany won the match.

In a letter dated January 4, 2009, Cravins announced his resignation as state senator to take a position as Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.^[6] Cravins also served as chief of staff to United States Senator Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from New Orleans from 2013 to 2015.^[7]

In 2015, Cravins was named the Deputy National Political Director for The American Israel Public Affairs Committee.^[8] On July 7, 2015, he was named the National Urban League’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director of National Urban League Washington Bureau. As such, he was responsible for the Urban League Policy Institute, with primary responsibility for developing the League’s policy, research and advocacy agenda and expanding its impact and influence inside the beltway. He was also devoted to the League’s mission to empower communities through education and economic development.^[9]

In 2017, Cravins left the National Urban League and became Vice President of Policy and External Affairs at Charter Communications. There he was responsible for building partnerships with external stakeholders and furthering shared policy objectives. Charter is America’s second largest cable operator in the United States and third largest pay TV operator behind Comcast and AT&T.^[10]

In addition to his duties at the National Urban League, Cravins is an adjunct professor at The George Washington University where he teaches Independent Research in the College of Professional Studies. He also serves as a Major in the District of Columbia Army National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps. Cravins serves on the Board of the Energy Foundation and also serves on the advisory board of Poder Latinx. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a Life Member of The Rocks, Inc., a member of the Greater Washington Urban League Guild and the 100 Black Men of Prince George's County. His honors include being named 2020 Advocate of the year by the National Bar Association, being inducted into the Southern University Law School Hall of Fame in 2018 and being named a Distinguished Alumnus of Louisiana State University in 2015. He has received the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Air Force Commendation Medal and The Army Achievement Medal for his military service.

Cravins and his wife, Yvette Puckett Cravins, have three children and reside in Maryland and New York.

See also[]

• United States House of Representatives elections in Louisiana, 2008

References[]

External links[]

• Senator Donald R. "Don" Cravins Jr. – District 24 official Louisiana State Senate website
  • Legislation, Committees^{[permanent dead link]}
• Don Cravins Jr. for U.S. Congress official campaign website

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Follow the Money – Don Cravins Jr.
  • 2007 state senate campaign contributions
  • 2005 state house campaign contributions