What was your first job, and what did it teach you about yourself?

One of my earliest work experiences was the opportunity to shadow healthcare professionals. I learned that, while I was not a fan of the clinical setting nor wanted to become a doctor anymore, I loved being able to interact with and talk to people on a daily basis!

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Kerra Dukes is a Northeast Baltimore native and rising policy leader dedicated to advancing equitable opportunities for young people across her city and state. Her greatest hope for humanity is that liberation for all marginalized groups will be realized, and that community work in collaboration with policy is what builds lasting change.

A recent graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Kerra majored in Public Policy and held a minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. Kerra first engaged with Baltimore’s Promise as a youth member of the Community Advisory Board. In that role, she quickly emerged as a leader, helping to shape the organization’s policy priorities and advocacy strategy.

Kerra now serves as Baltimore’s Promise’s inaugural policy coordinator, where she supports the organization’s growing policy portfolio. She is spearheading the launch of a citywide Youth Policy Committee and working closely with local schools and community stakeholders to ensure that place-based strategies are grounded in lived experience and community voice. 

Kerra brings prior experience from Annapolis, where she supported Senator Antonio Hayes and engaged in state-level policymaking. A proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she is deeply committed to mentorship, civic leadership, and building pathways for the next generation of changemakers.