Michael McClanahan brings his political astuteness to his role on the NAACP National Board of Directors.

An NAACP life member, McClanahan spent more than 30 years working on local, state and national campaigns before he was elected as the Baton Rouge NAACP branch president. He is also the Louisiana NAACP State Conference president where he provides oversight and support to over 30 adult branches and youth and college chapters.

McClanahan co-hosts a Sunday radio program, "The NAACP Presidents," along with the Baton Rouge branch president. He is a co-sponsor and segment moderator with "Dismantling Systemic and Institutional Racism," a series sponsored by the Louisiana State University, Louisiana Budget Project, and others.

Environmental justice is one of his passions. McClanahan actively fights environmental racism along a stretch of the Mississippi River known as Cancer Alley. He regularly participates with our NAACP national Environmental and Climate Justice Committee. He was instrumental in disaster recovery during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Laura, Delta, and Zeta.

The Louisiana State Police superintendent mishandled troopers' discipline around using the "N-Word" and the cover-up of the murder of Ronald Greene. Michael's advocacy efforts not only led to the superintendent's resignation but the arrests of six Louisiana state police troopers.

McClanahan also helped force the resignation of a sitting judge over her use of the "N-Word" while being an active partner seeking justice for Quawan Charles. He also initiated and organized a peaceful press conference and protest after Alton Sterling's killing by a Baton Rouge police department officer.

Along with the Louisiana State Conference, McClanahan continues to open investigations of discriminatory practices at public and private Louisiana institutions. McClanahan is the one of the lead plaintiffs on several high-profile cases such as LA State Conference of the NAACP, et al. v. the State of Louisiana, where we won certain protections for the electorate during the past two election cycles.

The Louisiana State Conference's version of Souls to the Polls was pivotal in increasing Black voter turnout which helped reelect the Deep South's only democratic governor.

McClanahan serves as the home manager for Harmony II of Harmony Center Incorporated. Here, he provides supervision and direct care to mentally challenged adult males. In addition to co-founding M&T Outpatient Rehab Center for the treatment of alcohol and drug addiction, McClanahan operates several businesses. His passion for teaching and developing youth, coupled with compassion and willingness to teach others, is shown in his experiences as an adjunct professor at the Southern University A&M College, operations manager for an after-school summer camp and a job training skills programs.

His many community affiliations include The LA Governor's COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce, The Legislative Police Training Screening and De-escalation Taskforce, and the Access to Justice Committee created by the Louisiana State Supreme Court.

McClanahan is a member of Church of Life Fellowship Baptist Church where he serves on the governing board, deacon board, and co-chairs the men's and evangelistic outreach ministries.

A graduate of the Southern University, he earned an associate degree in criminal justice and a bachelor's degree in sociology. He is a 1990 graduate of the Southern University Law Center.

Michael McClanahan lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Patricia and two children, Yasmine and Torin.