The Economic and Policy Fight in Labor

With over 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Executive Branch, and in the private sector, Patrice Willoughby has applied a racial equity lens to advocacy in financial services, tax, and technology.

Patrice served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11), guiding legislation to enhance retirement security and expand SBA lending programs.  She later served as Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus, supporting the passage of the Recovery Act, Dodd-Frank Financial Reform, and the Affordable Care Act.

After leaving Capitol Hill, Patrice served the Obama Administration at the General Services Administration. She most recently led the financial services practice at Signal Group, representing clients in capital markets, fintech, and private equity.

Patrice earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Case Western Reserve University, a Master of Arts from the University of Cincinnati, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after studying International Law in the Netherlands. She is the recipient of numerous awards: 2020 Top Lobbyist and Influencer by "Lawyers of Color"; a 2021 Top Lobbyist by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics; and in 2022, Lifetime Achievement by the Washington Government Relations Group of Black government affairs professionals.

Keisha Deonarine Bross is a national leader advancing racial equity through economic justice, public finance, and legislative strategy. She serves as Director of Opportunity, Race, and Justice at the NAACP, where she leads the organization's national Inclusive Economy and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda, translating Black community priorities into actionable policy solutions at the federal, state, and local levels.

In her role, Keisha drives policy development and advocacy focused on economic mobility, access to capital, workforce development, and institutional accountability. She works at the intersection of research, coalition-building, and legislative engagement to advance policies that dismantle structural racism and expand opportunity for Black and Brown communities.

Prior to joining the NAACP, Keisha held executive leadership roles in community finance and philanthropy. As an executive at a Kentucky-based Credit Union, she helped secure over $5 million in federal grants and $122.5 million in secondary capital, strengthening community-based financial infrastructure. She also led successful efforts to obtain Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification and advocated nationally for equitable capital deployment in historically marginalized communities.

Keisha previously served in senior philanthropic and public-sector roles, overseeing grantmaking strategies aligned with public health and economic equity outcomes. Her work has contributed to more than $200 million in project investments and the creation of 6,000+ jobs, leveraging public-private partnerships to drive measurable policy impact.

In addition to her institutional leadership, Keisha maintains a consulting practice KDB Consulting, providing services in economic development, CDFI strategy, strategic planning, diversity, equity, and inclusion implementation, and equity implementation.

Keisha's leadership has been recognized nationally, including selection as an ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellow, Business First Forty Under 40, and Today's Woman DE&I Leader. She graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.0) and Valedictorian with a Bachelor's in Entrepreneurship and Organizational Leadership from Simmons College of Kentucky. Keisha is currently attending the Florida State University College of Law to earn her Juris Master's degree with a concentration in financial regulation. Keisha's work reflects a sustained commitment to shaping policies that advance justice, accountability, and long-term economic equity.