The Annual National Conference
SAVE THE DATE!
August 23-25, 2027
Denver, CO
The Legislative Leadership Center’s flagship convening serves as the nation’s premier platform for legislative leaders of color. Together, we address critical policy challenges and strengthen our collective impact on state governance.
Experience exclusive leadership training, nonpartisan networking opportunities, community building, and deep-dive policy sessions led by national experts in our capital headquarters.
Featured Leader Spotlight
Nikki Merritt
Georgia senate minority caucus vice chair
Senator Merritt is a Democratic lawmaker representing Georgia's 9th District in Gwinnett County. First elected to office in 2020, she has dedicated her legislative career to advocating for public education, affordable healthcare access, and stronger community voter engagement. Drawing inspiration from her parents' involvement in the civil rights movement, she actively serves on several key committees and holds leadership positions within both the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and the Gwinnett County Senate Delegation.
What is unique about your background or upbringing?
I was born and raised in Austell, Georgia. I graduated from Pebblebrook High School, earned my bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and attended the University of Georgia. My upbringing was deeply shaped by my family’s connection to the Civil Rights Movement. My parents grew up during segregation and were active in the movement, instilling in me from an early age the importance of justice, community, fairness, and standing up for others. That foundation continues to shape how I serve today.
What is the core mission driving your legislative service?
My primary mission as a state legislator is to make government work for the people it represents. That mission comes directly from my 23 years working in telecommunications and from my experience as a mother. I have spent my career understanding the challenges that working people face, balancing a career, providing for a family, navigating rising costs, and trying to build a secure future. Being a mother has given those experiences an even deeper meaning because the decisions we make today directly affect the opportunities and quality of life our children will have tomorrow.
I believe government should be a partner in helping families succeed, not another obstacle they have to overcome. My goal is to make sure that working families have a meaningful voice at the Capitol and that the concerns they face every day are reflected in the policies we create. That means fighting for good-paying jobs and economic security, affordable healthcare, quality public education, safe and thriving communities, and opportunities for every Georgian to build a better life.
After more than two decades in the workforce, I understand that policies made at the Capitol are not abstract: they affect people's paychecks, their homes, their children's education, and their ability to provide for their families. As a mother, I also understand that our responsibility extends beyond the present. We have an obligation to leave the next generation with more opportunity than we inherited. Ultimately, my mission is to listen to the people I represent, bring their experiences to the Capitol, and turn those experiences into meaningful action. I want every Georgian to feel that their government sees them, hears them, and is working to create a state where hard work can truly lead to a better quality of life.
What are your top 3 platform priorities as an elected official?
1) Economic opportunity and affordability — raising wages, lowering the cost of living, and making Georgia more affordable for working families.
2) Education and opportunity — investing in public schools, teachers, students, and affordable pathways to higher education.
3) Healthcare and quality of life — expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive freedom, and addressing the issues that directly affect families and communities.
Please share the most significant achievement of your career to date.
Being elected Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus for the past two years has been the most significant achievement of my career. To have the opportunity to lead and serve in any capacity on behalf of underserved communities is deeply meaningful to me. But serving as a Black legislator carries an even greater significance. My forefathers fought, organized, and sacrificed for the right to have a voice in the legislative process, and I do not take that history for granted. Being entrusted to lead the largest legislative Black caucus in the nation has allowed me to help carry that legacy forward, advocate for communities that are too often overlooked, and create a path for those who will come after me. It is an honor that I carry with great pride and humility.
What major challenge or obstacle are you currently focused on addressing?
The affordability crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing Georgia families. Wages have not kept pace with the rising costs of housing, healthcare, education, groceries, childcare, and other basic necessities. Too many families are working harder than ever and still struggling to make ends meet. People should not have to choose between paying their bills, putting food on the table, caring for their children, or staying in their homes. I am focused on policies that strengthen working families, increase economic opportunity, and ensure that people who work hard can afford to live and thrive in the communities they call home.
What is the most valuable lesson you've learned in your role as a BiPOC state legislator in a leadership position?
I have learned that representation is about more than having a seat at the table—it is about using that seat to make sure other people are heard. As a Black woman in the Georgia Senate, I understand that there will be moments when my perspective is underestimated, when progress feels difficult, and when I am in the position of fighting for legislation I know may not pass. Serving in the Senate majority, I am often in a position where I may lose a vote, but I have learned not to let those losses discourage or define me. Instead, I use those moments as a reminder of why I am there: because there are people and communities whose voices are too often forgotten. Every loss strengthens my resolve to continue showing up, advocating, and making sure those voices are not overlooked. My responsibility is to remain persistent, speak truth to power, and create opportunities for others to have a voice.
Is there someone who helped mentor you to help you become the person you are today?
One person who has had a meaningful influence on who I am today is Cassandra Oliver. Her career and leadership have shown me what it means to pursue excellence while also creating opportunities for others to succeed. With more than 20 years of experience in education, financial investments, event planning, public speaking, training, and leadership development, she has consistently demonstrated that effective leadership is about both achievement and service. What has inspired me most is her ability to break barriers while helping others develop their own skills and confidence. She has always challenged me to think bigger, lead with purpose, and understand the importance of preparing others to succeed. Her mentorship has taught me that leadership is not simply about reaching the top, it is about reaching back, bringing others with you, and creating systems and opportunities that make it possible for the next generation to go even further.
What are a few non-work-related activities or hobbies that help you recharge?
I enjoy spending quality time with my children, my husband, and my friends. I also have a creative side that I enjoy through making homemade soap. In fact, I run my own small soap business, where I make refreshing, moisturizing soap bars using thoughtfully selected ingredients and avoiding many of the harsh additives found in heavily processed soaps. It is something I genuinely enjoy because it gives me an opportunity to be creative.
What else would you like for us to know about you?
What I hope people know about me is that I find great happiness in mentoring and helping prepare the next generation of leaders. I strongly believe that our young people have the potential to bring new energy, fresh voices, and new perspectives to the work of building a better future. Too often, young people are told to wait their turn, but I believe they should be encouraged to lead, participate, and begin creating change from an early age. I want to help equip the next generation of political leaders with the knowledge, confidence, and determination to carry forward the founding principles of opportunity, equality, and service that our nation strives to uphold.
For me, mentorship is about more than preparing young people for political careers. It is about inspiring them to believe that they can accomplish what generations before them may not have been able to and giving them the tools and encouragement to try. If I can help develop even a few leaders who are willing to work hard, serve their communities, and leave things better than they found them, that is a legacy I would be proud to leave behind.