MEET ABENA
Abena Affum-McAllister is a justice reform leader, community advocate, and public policy strategist dedicated to advancing equity, strengthening families, and expanding access to opportunity across Maryland. A resident of Charles County, Abena is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to bridge community, government, and advocacy spaces to drive meaningful and lasting impact.
Abena’s commitment to service is deeply rooted in her lived experience and a twelve-year legacy of local engagement. As a mother of three and a devoted autism mom, she brings a family-centered perspective to her advocacy for inclusive policy. She resides in Charles County with her college sweetheart, a native of Southern Maryland, and their children.
Beginning her grassroots service in 2013, Abena has served the community longer than many of her peers, starting as the Parliamentarian of the Charles County Democratic Central Committee. In 2017, she was unanimously elected by her peers as Chairwoman, making history as the second Black woman and the youngest person to lead the committee. Under her leadership during the monumental 2018 election, Charles County saw a 43% increase in voter turnout (GOTV). Following this success, she was elected to the Maryland Democratic Party Executive Board as Deputy Secretary and later lent her expertise to Comptroller Brooke Lierman’s transition team.
Abena currently serves as Director of Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives for the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, where she leads the development and implementation of countywide reform strategies focused on early intervention and youth engagement. In this role, she created innovative programs such as the Chronic Absenteeism Termination (CAT) Program and Future Legal Minds, initiatives designed to improve youth outcomes through mentorship throughout Charles County Public Schools.
Previously, Abena served as Director of Stakeholder Engagement for Pyxis Partners on the NIH All of Us Research Program, building relationships with historically underrepresented communities to expand participation in biomedical research. She is the founder of Women of Action Maryland, a founding board member of the Charles County Juneteenth Foundation, Inc., and Co-Founder of the Charles County African Connection. Her civic contributions include former board service for Planned Parenthood Advocates for DC, Maryland & NoVa and Emerge Maryland.
In recognition of her impact, Abena was named one of The Daily Record’s Leading Women Under 40. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Nyack College and her Juris Doctor from the David A. Clarke School of Law. Abena is also a proud charter member of the Southern Maryland chapter of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women.