Sophia Chitlik is an American politician serving as a member-elect of the North Carolina State Senate for the 22nd district. She was a field organizer for Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign and later worked in the U.S. Department of Labor and the White House before transitioning to nonprofit leadership and impact investing.
Sophia Chitlik | |
|---|---|
| Member-elect of the North Carolina Senate from the 22nd district | |
| Assuming office January 1, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Mike Woodard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
Early life
editChitlik was born and raised in Burbank, California.[1][2] She attended public schools during her early education and later pursued higher education with an emphasis on social movement and network theory, as well as the history of social movements in America.[1]
Career
editChitlik was a field organizer during the Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign, where she led general election operations in Loudoun County, Virginia.[2] She subsequently joined the Obama administration, working as a strategist in the U.S. Department of Labor and in priority placement at the White House.[1][3]
She later served as chief operating officer of The Future Project, a nonprofit education startup company, overseeing an $11 million budget and leading growth initiatives.[2] Chitlik has also engaged in philanthropy and impact investing, focusing on woman-owned businesses in the health and wellness sector and supporting initiatives aimed at increasing equity for underrepresented entrepreneurs.[2][1]
In Durham, North Carolina, where she moved in 2017, Chitlik co-founded Tend, a company dedicated to supporting individuals through pregnancy and birth.[3] She also collaborated on the development of Aya Birth & Community Wellness, which aims to become the first Black-owned birth center in North Carolina.[1]
During the 2024 North Carolina Senate election, Chitlik ran for the 22nd district. She emphasized policies addressing education, healthcare equity, and support for working families. In the March 2024 Democratic primary, she defeated three-term incumbent Mike Woodard with 57.55% of the vote.[1][3]
Personal life
editChitlik has lived in Durham since 2017. She is a mother.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Laidlaw, Justin (2024-01-10). "Exclusive: A Q&A With Sophia Chitlik, Candidate for Durham's NC Senate District 22 Seat". INDY Week. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b c d e "Candidate Questionnaire: Sophia Chitlik, NC Senate District 22". INDY Week. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-11-24.
- ^ a b c Cole, Jacqueline; Pelosky, Ryan (2024-03-06). "Chitlik defeats Woodard in race for N.C. Senate seat". 9th Street Journal. Retrieved 2024-11-24.