Walter R. Kirkland is a proven community leader, mentor, and advocate dedicated to empowering families and building opportunity across Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District. A native of Mount Vernon, New York, Walter earned a full athletic scholarship to Rutgers University, where he graduated with a B.S. degree and was a four-year All-American track and field athlete.

His early success in athletics and teamwork laid the foundation for a lifetime of leadership and service. Walter has spent more than two decades in high-profile sales, marketing, and public relations roles with major corporations including Xerox, Honeywell, and Samsung Electronics America, where he developed strong skills in strategic communication, negotiation, and community engagement.

A true grassroots builder, Walter is the founding president of the 100 Black Men of Prince George’s County, an organization he created to invest in mentorship, youth development, and community leadership. Through this work, he has directly mentored dozens of young people, connected families with critical resources, and uplifted voices too often overlooked in public discourse.

He has also served as Executive Chair of the March of Dimes in Prince George’s County and hosts the community-focused media program “Kirkland’s Korner,” amplifying local stories and solutions. Now running for U.S. Congress, Walter is focused on practical, people-centered solutions: safer neighborhoods, quality healthcare access, workforce development, modernizing education, and economic opportunity for all. His campaign is grounded in integrity, service, and a vision for shared prosperity.

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