Sophia Chitlik

Sophia Chitlik earned a bachelor's degree from New York University in 2011. Her career experience includes working as an investor.[1]

Chitlik has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]

Aya Birth & Community Wellness

Mi Malatin

NC Funders for Maternal Health

Jewish For Good

Narrow Bridge Fund

At The Well

Startingbloc

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Video submitted to BallotpediaReleased January 3, 2024

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a lot of things: the child of union members, an Obama administration aluma, and builder of nonprofits, strategic plans, and coalitions. I’m also a mom, a daughter, a caregiver and a friend.

I began my career on the Obama Campaign and later served in the White House and the Department of Labor as a political appointee. I went on to work as a Chief of Staff, eventually rising to become a Chief Operating Officer of an eight-figure education non-profit. I then worked as a strategic planning consultant, partnering with CEOs in the public and private sector. I have spent the past five years investing in women-led companies and nonprofits in Durham and beyond.

During the course of my career, I’ve helped to raise millions of dollars for community organizations, candidates, and start-ups. I’ve built enduring partnerships with major philanthropists, government entities, and Fortune 500 companies. I’ve worked with people who disagree with me to get things done. Most importantly, I’ve learned quickly, thrived in dynamic and uncertain environments, and multitasked well. I am, after all, a mom!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I believe our state should Care for our Children by focussing on:

- Public schools. Ensure every child age three or older has access to high-quality publicly funded education.

- Career readiness. Expand affordable access to community college and job training programs like paid apprenticeships.

- Healthy kids. Support the mental and physical health of children beginning before they are born and extending well beyond graduation.

Additionally, we should Care for our Caregivers for focussing on:

- Women’s rights. Safeguard access to abortion, contraception, and bodily autonomy.

- Family health equity. Tackle our state’s maternal mortality crisis and expand access to healthcare.

- Work that works. Stabilize and support working families by expanding childcare, increasing workforce housing, and providing livable wages.

- Dignity for caregivers. Support the people who make our communities function with clear rights and just wages.

Lastly, I believe we need to Care for our Communities by focussing on:

- Affordable housing. Expand the supply of affordable for-sale housing, change zoning laws, and provide increased emergency assistance.

- Support for working families. Make it possible for families to be healthy, whole, and employed.

- Community justice. Increase equity in our criminal legal system.

- A green future. Protect our environment and invest in a clean energy future.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am particularly passionate about the issues that impact working families, as I outline in my platform of care. One issue that has deep personal relevance is my commitment to expanding safe birthing options so that everyone has a real choice about where and how they deliver their babies. I am twice as likely to die during childbirth as my mother was when she gave birth to me. Black birthing people are three to four times as likely to die in childbirth than their white counterparts. This is an issue that demands urgent attention and substantial policy change, and there is a lot that we can do about, beginning with expanding access to midwifery here in our state.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

1) Collaboration: Policy is a team sport. It’s critical to work together with other elected officials, community members, and organizations to make lasting change.

2) Listening: The best policies are made by the people who are most directly impacted by them. Listening is absolutely critical. Elected officials are conduits; ego has no place in this work.

3) Facilitation: So much of this job is about setting the table and creating the enabling context for conversation and collaboration.

4) Accountability: Ultimately, every elected official is accountable not just to the voters but to everyone who lives in their district. Voting, dialogue, and relationships are key to real accountability.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I believe that leaders make and lift up more leaders. I hope that my legacy includes hundreds of successful individuals and organizations grew a little bit more because I supported and advocated for them. I hope I am able to continue to identify, coach and mentor individuals to be ready to take on leadership roles, and to be better at those roles than me. Real leadership and legacy means the work goes on and gets better even after you leave.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

will answer later

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Durham People’s Alliance, Progressive Caucus of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Congresswoman Kathy Manning, Former Mayor Steve Schewel, City Council Member Javiera Cabellero, City Council Member Carl Rist, Commissioner Nida Allam, Former City Councilmember Farad Ali