Lenny McAllister Biography

Lenny McAllister, a unifying voice for civic growth and enhancement, is a leader that guides with a strong sense of civic perspective, growth, and justice.

The oldest of three children, Lenny grew up in a middle-class suburb of Pittsburgh, Lenny was guided towards strong academics, civic and ethic pride, and spiritual discipline and respect for others by his parents: Leonard, Sr. (a steel mill electrician) and the late Carol McAllister (a retired daycare provider.) He excelled as a three-sport athlete and a work-study student at Shady Side Academy (http://www.shadysideacademy.org) before moving on to Davidson College (www.davidson.edu). At Davidson, he participated as a pitcher on the varsity baseball team, a contributing writer for The Davidsonian, and as an active member of the Black Student Coalition. He received an ACES Academic Award during his academic career. He played an instrumental role in aiding the process of procuring nationally-renowned Alpha Phi Alpha on Davidson’s campus, the first historically Black fraternity established on the College’s campus. After a decade hiatus from school, Lenny returned to graduate from Davidson College with a degree in History.

In both the Pittsburgh and Charlotte areas, Lenny worked to improve the lives of at-risk youths. Through his involvement with the Hill House Association and MEN At Work in Pittsburgh, Lenny led initiatives to train the unemployed, create safer neighborhoods, encourage teenage fathers to become better fathers and men, and encourage urban economic development. Upon returning to Davidson, Lenny also served as a tutor/mentor for the Boys and Girls Club of Our Towns and the After School Program at the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson. Previously, Lenny served on the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Advisory Board and the Davidson Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Lenny has contributed as a member of Return Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina and the Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Speakers’ Bureau. Lenny also served on the Events and Outreach Committees of Succession, a Mecklenburg County-based service organization. He also participated in the creation of Sguzo Saba, a Saturday academy in Charlotte that sought to meet the under-addressed needs of young Black males between the ages of 14 and 17.

Lenny is an active member of the North Carolina Republican Party Executive Committee, the 12th District Republican Executive Committee (where he serves as the Vice-Chairman), and the North Carolina New Majority Advisory Council. In 2006 and 2007, Lenny was an invitee of former US Senator Elizabeth Dole (NC) to the African-American Leadership Summit in Washington, DC that was co-sponsored by US Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX). Lenny also appeared as an invited speaker before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Judicial Committee to address unfair inconsistencies in child custody laws and court proceedings. He has also served as a participant in the Citizens’ Task Force on Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in December 2005. In addition, Lenny served as an appointee to the United Way Community Advisory Board in the Lake Norman region.

Currently, Lenny appears as a political commentator featured regularly on Fox Television in Charlotte, NC. He is a syndicated writer nationally for online magazines including The Root, Rushmore Drive, and AOL. He was recently named a Visiting Fellow for the Center for New Politics and Policy at the University of Denver. He was featured as a political commentator during the Republican National Convention in 2008 for several outlets including CNN, CNN International, BBC World News, and Black Entertainment Television. In addition, McAllister was a guest host on the Fox News primetime webcast with Shepard Smith before Gov. Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech and a featured guest on “ABC News NOW” with Sam Donaldson in primetime before Senator John McCain’s acceptance speech. He gives regular commentary to outlets ranging from Chicago to Columbia, South Carolina and from Canada to Australia, including National Public Radio, XM Radio, and ABC Radio Australia.

Lenny continues to promote fostering economic growth, civic enhancement, and community development, knowing that enlightened minds, safe homes, and empowered citizens are the key components to a successful North Carolina and a more prosperous America.

McAllister describes himself as “...an African-American conservative with a mission to make positive changes to the status quo within politics, social issues and other issues that hamper our American way of life...”

Lenny as "Daddy" to daughter Alicia and son Peace