Meet Walter

 

A Life of Service. A Voice for the Community. A Leader Shaped by Experience.

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Walter Kirkland is more than a community leader he is a father, mentor, advocate, and builder who has spent over 30 years empowering families across Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland. His journey is rooted in service, shaped by lived experience, and guided by the belief that leadership means showing up for people especially when it’s hard.

Walter understands the strength of this district because he has helped nurture it, support it, and stand alongside it for decades.

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Early Life & Values

 

Walter was raised in a hardworking family that instilled three core principles: faith, discipline, and service to others.

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From an early age, he learned that opportunity is not equally distributed and that communities must work together to create pathways forward. These values guided him through school, into his professional life, and into decades of leadership and service throughout Maryland.

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A Career Rooted in Community

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Walter built his career across corporate and nonprofit leadership roles, focusing on strengthening partnerships, mentoring young people, and expanding opportunity for underserved families. But it was his community work that truly defined his path.

 

In Prince George’s County, Walter became a trusted convener bringing together parents, educators, business owners, faith leaders, seniors, and young people to solve problems collaboratively and build solutions from the ground up.

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He has worked closely with school systems, nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, local government, and small businesses to help create safer, stronger, and more connected communities.

 

His guiding principle has always been simple:

“If we want change, we must lead it ourselves.”

 

Founding Charter President of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County

 

Walter is the Founding Charter President of 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County, one of the

region’s most respected mentoring and youth development organizations.

 

Under his leadership, the organization has:

• Mentored thousands of young men

• Provided leadership development and academic support

• Connected students with college, career, and trade opportunities

• Built bridges between families, schools, and community leaders

• Established a model for empowering the next generation

Walter’s work through 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County earned recognition across Maryland and positioned him as a respected voice on youth development, civic engagement, and community uplift.

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A Commitment to Youth, Families & Seniors

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Walter’s service has always been intergenerational.

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For Youth:
He reached young people early helping them navigate school, life choices, and opportunities for a brighter future.

 

For Families:
He supported parents in accessing resources, building stability, and finding hope during difficult times.

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For Seniors:
He worked with senior groups, churches, and community partners to address elder isolation, financial vulnerability, and access to essential services.

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Walter’s leadership is hands-on, relationship-driven, and deeply personal.

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A Bridge-Builder and Unifier

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Walter believes strong communities are built through collaboration, not division.

 

Throughout his life of service, he has brought together:

• Faith-based leaders

• Nonprofits

• Local government

• Law enforcement

• Small business owners

• Educators

• Young people and seniors

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His ability to unify diverse voices and create practical outcomes is a hallmark of his leadership.

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A Father Focused on the Next Generation

 

As a proud father, Walter understands what it means to build a future where young people feel safe, supported, and encouraged to pursue their dreams. His commitment to community is fueled by his own children and the thousands of young people he has mentored over the years.

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Why Walter Is Exploring a Path Forward

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A message from Walter Kirkland

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I am currently exploring a potential run for public office because I believe the people of Maryland’s Fifth District deserve leadership that listens, understands, and stands beside them not above them.

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For more than 30 years, I have worked in our communities as a mentor, youth advocate, nonprofit leader, and problem-solver. I’ve sat in church basements with parents worried about their children’s safety. I’ve stood on football fields and in school auditoriums encouraging young people to believe in themselves. I’ve worked with seniors who feel overlooked and with small business owners fighting to stay afloat.

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I’ve seen the challenges our families face and I’ve also seen the strength, resilience, and brilliance that make Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland so special.

This exploratory effort is about listening, learning, and determining whether stepping forward formally is the right next step for me and for our community.

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If I move forward, my focus would be on:

• Restoring trust between people and government

• Ensuring our district receives the resources it has long been overlooked for

• Supporting economic opportunity for working families and small businesses

• Investing in young people so opportunity surrounds them

• Protecting seniors who built this community

• Strengthening public safety through prevention, partnership, and accountability

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My life’s work has always been rooted in service. This exploratory effort is simply an extension of that commitment guided by community voices and shared priorities.

 

Together, we can continue the conversation about what leadership should look like and what our district can become.

Walter Kirkland