By Ashleigh Fields
Special to the AFRO
Kamau Marshall is resurfacing in his hometown of Baltimore as the head of communications for Mayor Brandon Scott (D), the youngest and the first mayor to win reelection for the Charm city in two decades.
“I’m looking at the city from every angle with a bird’s view, looking at all the different agencies that report up to the mayor and all the different offices within the mayor’s office,” Marshall told the AFRO in an exclusive interview. “More importantly, [I’m] making sure that our message is getting across and that all the residents of Baltimore City know what’s happening and what Mayor Scott is doing.”
Marshall most recently served as a senior advisor to former Vice President Kamala Harris throughout her historic campaign as the 2024 Democratic presidential candidate.
Prior to his role with Harris, he served on former President Biden’s 2020 campaign after a long, storied career in politics working for world renowned civic leaders as a communications aide, including the late Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) and current Congressman Al Green (D-Texas).
“This is not my first time here in Baltimore, this will be my third stint. When I was a child, I moved here at a few months old [up] to going to elementary school here. Stint two, I was working for the late Congressman Elijah Cummings here in Baltimore and in D.C., and now this is stint three working for Mayor Scott,” Marshall explained.
“I think that one, I understand Baltimore, Maryland. Number two, local matters. Everything happens on the ground. I think the big thing about working for a mayor is they make sure the blood is flowing in the city. And so you cannot beat that experience. I’ve worked at all the levels, pretty much all the levels of government from the president on down,” he added.
Marshall said he hopes to provide clear understandings to residents on trash pick up, electricity and water workings in the city that molds every aspect of life from the Inner Harbor to the peninsula.
His ability to work in fast-paced, high-stakes environments like Baltimore is but one of the reasons Scott picked Marshall to lead his office’s communications team.
“I met Kamau many years ago when he worked for Baltimore’s forever congressman, Elijah Cummings, a well-trusted and great-grand steward to me. Also, I’ve always connected with Mr. Marshall through his work, having worked within two presidential administrations, including the most recent,” Scott told the AFRO.
“In my second term, we’re talking about legacy-cementing and institutionalizing some of our great work. Baltimore is telling its own story versus others telling the story for Baltimore. The historic reductions in gun violence in our city continue to show improvement and strength, as do the renovations and improvements in our facilities for young people at many schools, as well as many parks and recreational centers. These are all things we’ve been able to accomplish and are now trying to build upon.”
Marshall said while serving within this new role, he will prioritize working with all media outlets with a particular focus on the Black Press.
“I’m a person that is not only working with a host of legacy media, a host of non-traditional outlets and media, but also Black media. I say that to say they are part of my foundation. And I will always be open and transparent with Black media. And I look forward to always working with them,” Marshall said.
“Black Press matters,” he added. “I appreciate the work they’ve done in the past and the work they’re going to do in the future, even in the difficult climate. I’m always an ally and a partner when it comes to Black media–always.”