Amanda K. Edwards is an attorney, non-profit leader, and former City Council Member committed to empowering communities through solutions, engagement and service. Amanda serves as general counsel for Houston Parks Board. She is also President & CEO of The Community Based Solutions Firm, and she is the Board President of Be The Solution: Community Empowerment Organization. Amanda previously served as the Houston City Council Member in At-Large Position 4. As a City Council Member, Amanda served as the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee Vice Chair, and she served on the Economic Development Committee and the Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee.

While on City Council, Amanda initiated and led the Mayor’s Technology & Innovation Task Force to cultivate a stronger innovation economy in Houston. Her work led to the creation of Houston’s innovation district. She also led the High Capacity Transit Task Force for the Houston Galveston Area Council Transportation Policy Council. Amanda also launched and led Houston’s Women and Minority-Owned Business Task Force to assist women and minority business owners with gaining access to capital. She also led national efforts to address the future of work. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Amanda mobilized hundreds of volunteers to render aid to residents in Harvey recovery efforts. Finally, Amanda launched her Community Empowerment Signature Series to empower residents to be the solution in their communities.

Amanda attended Eisenhower High School in Aldine I.S.D.. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Emory University, where she served as president of the undergraduate student body and was later inducted into the Emory University Hall of Fame. After graduating from Emory, Amanda worked for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Washington, D.C. Amanda then earned her juris doctor from Harvard Law School. While at Harvard, Amanda was awarded the Elaine Osborne Jacobson Award for serving underserved populations in the healthcare law arena.

Amanda relocated to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. While in New Orleans, Amanda served as a judicial law clerk for Federal District Court Judge Ivan Lemelle and founded Project NOW: The New Orleans Writing Project, which inspired New Orleans youth to empower themselves and their community through the power of writing.

Amanda returned to Houston, and practiced law at both Vinson & Elkins LLP and Bracewell LLP as a public finance attorney. She solved complex issues relating to tax-exempt bond financings, public-private partnerships and non-profit organizations. She helped her clients navigate challenges and issue over 2 billion dollars in tax-exempt debt to build hospitals, universities, and public infrastructure and facilities.

Amanda has served as President of the Board of Directors for Project Row Houses and on numerous other boards, including the National League of Cities and Texas Lyceum. Amanda serves on the Advisory Council of Accelerator for America. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as well as the Houston Chapter of The Links, Inc. Amanda has been featured by multiple media outlets, including: NBC, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox Business, Essence, Black Enterprise, The Root, The New York Times, NPR, Politico, The HILL, The Houston Chronicle and The Texas Tribune, among others.