Malkia Hutchinson (She/Her) – Director of Media and Communications

We are excited to announce that Malkia Hutchinson recently filled the position of Director of Media and Communications! She comes to NCLR after working in communications in the reproductive justice space. Get to know Malkia in this Q & A!  

Where do you currently reside? Missouri City, TX (a suburb outside of Houston) 

What is your educational background? I have a BA in Sociology from Cornell University and an MPA from the University of Houston 

Where did you work before this? I worked as the Director of Communications and External Affairs for the Texas State Infrastructure Project. In my role, I supported the communications capacity needs and managed the Trust Respect Access coalition. This coalition, comprised of Texas-based abortion funds and abortion advocacy organizations, organizes Texans and lobbies for policies that will restore abortion access in the state. 

What brought you to NCLR? I was curious about communications opportunities in other movement spaces and saw this position listed on LinkedIn. I wasn’t familiar with NCLR but was very intrigued by the position description and what I read on the NCLR website. After speaking with a few friends and colleagues who spoke very highly of the organization, I decided to apply. NCLR’s work is aligned with my values, and it feels like a great place to grow as a communications professional. 

What are you most looking forward to as you start your position? I’m looking forward to collaborating with our staff to build out a communications strategy tying together all the wonderful work everyone is doing. NCLR has such a rich history and is engaged in groundbreaking policy and litigation efforts. There is so much to work with and so much talent among the staff to pull from as we build NCLR’s brand and tell our story. 

What issues are you most passionate about? Protecting LGBTQIA2S+ youth, building safe and affirming spaces on Texas’s college campuses, reproductive justice and abortion access 

Do you have any goals for 2024 personally and/or professionally? Professionally, I want to get acclimated to NCLR and strengthen our internal and external communications infrastructure. Personally, I would love to take Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train between Los Angeles and Seattle before the end of the year. 

What do you like to do outside of work? I love hanging out with my 13-year-old whenever she decides I’m cool enough to be around. I’ve also been taking improv classes for about eight months and really enjoy it. My goal is to join a troupe when I’ve completed all five levels.  

Do you have any pets? I have three dogs who are all Pitbull mixes: Belle (5 years old), Bucky (3 years old), and Blaze (2 years old)