Sarah Walker

Sarah Walker is the Chief Operating Officer at 180 Degrees, Inc. and the founder of the MN Second Chance Coalition. Sarah is a graduate of Carleton College and has completed doctoral work in the department of political science at the University of Minnesota. She brings extensive research experience to issues of politics, inequality, criminal justice reform and the role of philanthropic organizations in setting interest group agendas. Her previous positions include Research Consultant at the Council on Crime and Justice, Director of Workforce Development at the Center for Court Innovation, Executive Director of the Youth Justice Funding Collaborative, and interim Research Director at the Council on Crime and Justice. Sarah also serves as a board member of Rebuild Resources, the Kids Change Initiative, the William Mitchell Reentry Clinic Advisory Board, the Ramsey County Community Corrections Advisory Board, the St. Paul African American Leadership Council, the Prison Policy Initiative, Twin Cities Rise and Clare Housing. Sarah is a member of the Minnesota Supreme Courts Racial Fairness Committee. In 2009 she joined the Minnesota Correctional Associations Legislative Committee. Sarah co-facilitates a book club at Minnesota's women's correctional facility Shakopee. In 2010 Governor Pawlenty appointed Sarah to the Council on Black Minnesotans and in 2011 Governor Dayton appointed her to Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. In January of 2011 Sarah accepted the Presidency of the Coalition for Impartial Justice. Sarah’s public policy work has received many accolades. She is the recipient of the 2010 Minnesota Council of Non-Profits statewide advocacy award, the 2010 Hennepin County Bar Association Advancing Justice Award, and the 2010 and 2011 winner of the Politics in Minnesota’s leaders in Public Policy award.