About Me

Richard Parker is a resilient leader and a dedicated public servant with a passion for creating positive change. Born and raised in the Brooklyn and Cherry Hill communities of Baltimore, Richard faced adversity from a young age. However, he turned his challenges into opportunities for growth and empowerment.

After graduating from Baltimore City College, Richard enlisted in the United States Army, where he honed his leadership skills and learned the value of service to others. During his time in the military, Richard was deployed to various regions, where he witnessed firsthand the importance of community engagement and collaboration.

Following his honorable discharge, with a VA loan in hand that would allow him to relocate anywhere in the country, Richard returned to his hometown, determined to make a difference. Through grassroots initiatives, he advocated for better resources and opportunities for residents in underserved neighborhoods. Through his tireless efforts, Richard spearheaded numerous community projects, including job training programs, youth mentorship initiatives, and neighborhood revitalization efforts through his work as president of numerous community organizations including the Southwest Partnership, Pigtown Community Association, Friends of Carroll Park, Southern District Police-Community Relations Council as well as in a host of advisory positions for other communities.

Driven by his commitment to organizing communities, Richard pursued higher education and earned a Project Management Degree from Syracuse University. He then embarked on a career in public policy, working for both local and state legislative bodies as well as eventually moving up to the #2 position in the state as the Deputy Director of the union AFSCME (American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees). Richard used his experience and expertise to advocate for policies that uplifted marginalized communities and promoted economic empowerment. In mostly volunteer positions, he worked to ensure that everyone’s voice – residents and businesses – was heard and valued.

Richard’s dedication and leadership has not gone unnoticed. Encouraged by community members and small business owners unhappy with the lack of progress and increase in crime in the community, Richard decided to take his commitment to public service to the next level by running for City Council. As a candidate, Richard’s campaign is focused on inclusivity, equity, and government accountability. What does that mean? It means people cannot live in peace; and good neighbors and businesses cannot be attracted or retained if we don’t acknowledge our crime problems and tackle them head on. It means that all of the taxpayer funded resources of the government need to be directed toward ensuring residents and businesses across the entire city have equal access to the same protections and support.