City of Durham names New Director of Community partnerships
The City of Durham has appointed Starla Tanner as the new Director of the Community Partnerships & Engagement Department, effective December 1, 2025. With over 20 years of expertise in public affairs, community engagement, public policy, and government relations, Tanner has a wealth of experience both in North Carolina and beyond. She is known for her successful track record in promoting inclusive policies, spearheading large advocacy campaigns, and forming coalitions that amplify the voices of all community members.
Most recently, Tanner was the Chief Operating Officer at the New Georgia Project & Action Fund, where she managed operations, research, and political teams across ten regional offices. She implemented organizing strategies that prioritized maternal health, voter protection, and environmental justice, overseeing a team of more than 40 individuals. Earlier in her career, Tanner took on leadership positions in North Carolina, including serving as the Intergovernmental Affairs Manager for Mecklenburg County. In this role, she directed advocacy strategies at both the state and federal levels, managed over $50 million in federal relief funding, and championed policies like a countywide source-of-income nondiscrimination ordinance to enhance housing access.
Additionally, she was the Director of Government & Community Relations at North Carolina Central University, where she initiated civic engagement programs, organized a White House Jobs Summit, and launched the National HBCU Voting Kickoff, which significantly boosted student voter turnout. Her experience in state government also includes roles with the N.C. Department of State Treasurer, N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, and N.C. Department of Insurance. Tanner has also led statewide coalitions, including a $5 million grassroots initiative that brought together over 40 organizations to safeguard local public schools, and crafted legislative strategies for groups such as the Georgia Association of Educators and the American College of Rheumatology.
Photo Courtesy: City of Durham, NC Government