Winning Record

Dayne Walling has a record of change and experience at every level of government. When the Flint Journal endorsed Dayne Walling for Mayor in 2007, the editors wrote that, “Walling's service with Washington, D.C.'s mayor, his agency experience in Minneapolis and a stint at the nationally acclaimed Genesee County Land Bank provide examples of good governance to follow.” They also stated that, “Walling's preparation for public service might be the equal of any we've seen in two generations.” Since that time, Dayne has continued to serve this community by working for Barack Obama’s campaign and starting his own business to support local organizations and groups working for change all across the country.

Experience

• Worked as Barack Obama's Regional Coordinator for the Flint office
• Supervised over 500 Election Day volunteers—the largest election volunteer effort in Flint’s history
• Started a successful small business in Flint—21st Century Performance LLC
• Provided management and program consulting services to local organizations and businesses including Dort Oak Park Neighborhood House, Shelter of Flint, Universal Development & Design, and Flint District United Methodist Church
• Served as the National Field Coordinator for the Center for Civic Participation coalition which registered over 1 million voters for the 2008 election
• Managed $1.8 million in services for civic programs in 16 progressive state networks including MI
• Founded Flint’s Future Now & Institute for Flint’s Future to promote economic diversification
• Developed new ways for the Genesee County Land Bank to involve communities and neighborhoods
• Served as the first Executive Director of Flint Club with nearly 1,000 members in 30 states
• Worked with National Voice and Mark Ritchie (now MN Secretary of State) to coordinate coalition that registered over 5 million voters in 2004
• Developed strategic plan for Ready 4 K Minnesota, an early childhood education coalition
• Prepared $600,000 successful grant application to the U.S. Department of Commerce Technology Opportunity Program for the Neighborhood Planning and Community Revitalization Initiative in Minnesota
• Worked for the Urban Coalition of Minnesota and designed a program to increase homeownership
• Worked in the Executive Office of DC Mayor Anthony Williams
• Led the establishment of an inter-agency grants council to support the acquisition of more than $30 million annually in competitive federal grants
• Participated in DC Neighborhood Action program to create neighborhood plans and address citizens’ priorities
• Designed and implemented a high-tech communications strategy to enhance collaboration with foundation and corporate partners
• Worked for the Grants Management Department in the DC Office of the Chief Financial Officer and managed government grant reporting requirements
• Joined Michigan’s AmeriCorps as a community organizer in Lansing
• Additional work experience with Kildee for Congress, Kensington Group LLC, Southern Africa Environmental Project, U.S. Senate Committee on Public Works, YWCA of Greater Flint

Education

Graduate, Flint Central High School 1992

BA in Social Relations, Michigan State University’s James Madison College 1996

BA in Modern History, University of Oxford’s St. Peter’s College 1998

MA in Contemporary Urban Affairs, University of London’s Goldsmith’s College, 1999

Ph.D. Candidate in Geography, University of Minnesota, 2006

Rhodes Scholar

Truman Scholar