Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Skinner Leadership Institute
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, CEO and co-founder of Skinner Leadership Institute, is a trusted advisor, public policy strategist, faith and community leader, author, lecturer, educator, executive coach, and mentor. She has made an indelible imprint in American public policy, government, diversity, and community relations. She and her late husband, Tom Skinner, founded the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Prayer Breakfast that annually attracts over 3,000 leaders across the nation. She regularly works with interfaith leaders on issues like health care and criminal justice reform.
Widely known as a committed prayer warrior, Dr. Williams-Skinner regularly prays for and with Congressional leaders and sends daily scripture to many of them. She is co-founder of a millennial leadership program — the Masters Series for Distinguished Leaders that equips millennial leaders to move to the next levels of their lives and careers which address the needs of the disadvantaged. The program is now in its 13th year and has graduated over 200 young leaders.
Dr. Williams-Skinner also co-founded the Masters Series for Distinguished Clergy that equips pastors with advocacy and media skills to voice their values in the public arena. Dr. Williams-Skinner has authored a book on building personal spiritual power, “I Prayed, Now What?” and a companion discussion guide, perfectly suited for personal and group Bible studies. In November 2020 and January 2021, Dr. Williams-Skinner coordinated Turnout Sunday/Lawyers and Collars, a faith-based voter protection campaign engaging clergy as poll chaplains to protect vulnerable voters. She recently received the DC Regional Leadership Hall of and Fame Award.
Beginning 2022, Dr. Williams-Skinner is currently coordinating a ten-state nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith, and multi-generation Faiths United to Save Democracy voter justice campaign with a toolkit (www.turnoutsunday.com), to make voting easier for vulnerable populations. Dr. Williams-Skinner holds a B.A. Degree from San Francisco State University, a Master of Social Work Degree and a Law Degree from UCLA; as well as a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC.