Edda Collins Coleman is a Co-Founder and former Chief Public Affairs Officer of All In Together. As founding Chief Public Affairs Officer, Edda was responsible for creating the advocacy framework, leading internal and external communications, partner communications, marketing integration and partnerships with policymakers and third party stakeholders.
Edda is a Managing Director at Cogent Strategies, guiding Fortune 50 companies and leaders as they communicate with Congress, the Executive Branch of government and navigate the regulatory landscape. Edda also leads in crisis management, stabilizing communications at corporations and non-profits during pivotal moments.
Edda joined Cogent Strategies from the Executive Leadership Council, the preeminent organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives, where she directed communications, government affairs strategy and partnership development.
U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee has said, “Edda has a proven track record as someone who is passionate about good governance. Her devotion to fostering unity around issues that matter is more important today than ever before.”
Edda is a current Board of Director of Facing History and Ourselves, a global non-profit based in Massachusetts, serving on the governance committee. Edda is also a former gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth, having served in the administrations of then Gov. Mark Warner (D), Gov. Tim Kaine (D) and Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), respectively.
An award-winning strategist, Edda has been honored by ESSENCE Magazine and is included on their list of 100 Woke Women of 2018. She received the 2016 BMW and MADE Magazine Pay it 4Ward Award, is a 2014 Northern Virginia Alumni of Hampton University 35 for 35 Awardee, a 2014 RollingOut Magazine’s Female Success Factor, a 2014 Hello Beautiful 25 Women to Know: Crusaders in Health Care honoree and received the Women in Government Relations 2014 and 2013 Co-Chair Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership.
Edda’s work and insights on gender equity, social justice and women in politics have been featured in Forbes, NPR and Refinery29. A graduate of Hampton University and Georgetown University, Edda currently splits her time between the Beltway and Northern California where she lives with her husband and three daughters.
