Commissioner Interview: Reverend Lawrence E. Walker Sr.
MD250 spoke with Reverend Lawrence E. Walker, Sr., about his Maryland story, his hopes for the 250th, and his work as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives (GOCI).
“A commitment to serving his community through activism.”
Although he was born and lived his early years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Reverend Lawrence E. Walker moved to Maryland to live with his aunt and uncle when he was 15. During his time at Southern University, he was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. which he said is a vehicle to provide service to the community. The more he served, the more he recognized that he was interested in stepping in and taking a leadership role. He is an active participant in the Celebration Church at Columbia community, where he eventually served as full time church deputy pastor for 18 years.
Reverend Walker met Governor Wes Moore during his 2022 campaign, where he served as the Howard County campaign manager. His experience in the campaign led him to working in state government and he felt that this was where he was called to serve and where he could have the most impact.
What does America mean to you?
In answering this complex question, Reverend Walker recalled attending Governor Moore’s inauguration. He felt that this inauguration was particularly important, from the wreath-laying ceremony at the Annapolis dock where at least one of his ancestors was sold, to witnessing the installation of the first Black Governor in Maryland’s complex history.
He is given hope by the positive trajectory of the nation and wants to leave a hopeful model for his grandchildren to live in and continue on. Today, he serves on the Board of Directors at James Madison’s Montpelier (the home of the US Constitution,) where his 4th great grandfather Benjamin McDaniel was enslaved. He is also the president of the Montpelier Descendants Committee.
Reverend Walker reflected on how the 250th Commission gives hope. The MD Two Fifty Executive Order welcomes the inclusion of Native American and other communities, which will ensure a diverse tapestry that is authentic and inclusive for the 250th in Maryland. He hopes that all Marylanders are able to see themselves in this history and want to see themselves as a part of Maryland’s future.
Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives
The Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives is the bridge between government resources and diverse communities in Maryland. Reverend Walker explains that this is a two way bridge, as communities share their ideas, concerns, and needs, GOCI shares or helps coordinate available resources. GOCI includes the Maryland Commissions on: Indian Affairs; LGBTQIA+ Affairs; the Office of Immigrant Affairs; Faith Outreach and five ethnic commissions (The Governor’s Commission on: African Affairs; Asian-Pacific American Affairs; Hispanic and Latin American Community Affairs; Middle-Eastern American Affairs; and South-Asian American Affairs.) Reverend Walker invites Marylanders to learn more about GOCI here.