Michael McClanahan

Michael McClanahan is best known for his political astuteness. Over the last 30 plus years, he has successfully worked on several local, state, and national campaigns. Those experiences led to Michael being elected as the NAACP Baton Rouge Branch President. Michael is a life member of the NAACP and is the current NAACP Louisiana State Conference President. As State President, Michael provides oversight to over 30 adult branches and youth and college chapters all over the great State of Louisiana.

Michael serves as the Home Manager for Harmony II of Harmony Center Incorporated. In Michael's role, he provides supervision and direct care to mentally challenged adult males. Michael co-founded M&T Outpatient Rehab Center, which treated alcohol and drug addiction. Michael also operates several other businesses. Michael's passion for teaching and developing youth, coupled with compassion and willingness to teach others, is shown in his experiences as an adjunct professor at The Southern University A&M College, Operations Manager for an after-school summer camp while developing/implementing job training skills programs. Michael launched a partnership with Acadian Ambulance to train 100 community members as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and paramedics. Mike co-hosts a Sunday radio program, "The NAACP Presidents," alongside the Baton Rouge Branch President. Michael is a co-sponsor and segment moderator with "Dismantling Systemic and Institutional Racism," a series of Louisiana State University, Louisiana Budget Project, and others. Michael actively fights environmental racism along a stretch of the Mississippi River known as Cancer Alley. Michael regularly participates with the National Environmental and Climate Justice Committee; Michael was also instrumental in disaster recovery during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Laura, Delta, and Zeta.

Fighting bigots and hypocrites is what Michael does; Michael was influential in the Louisiana State Police Superintendent's resignation. The Superintendent of the state's premier law enforcement agency in Louisiana mishandled troopers' discipline around using the "N-Word" and the explicit cover-up of the murder of Ronald Greene. These advocacy efforts not only led to the Superintendent's resignation but the arrests of 6 Louisiana State Police Troopers. Michael also helped force the resignation of a sitting judge over her use of the "N-Word" while being an active partner seeking justice for Quawan Charles. Michael and the State Conference continues to open investigations of discriminatory practices at public/private Louisiana institutions. Michael is the lead plaintiff/plaintiffs on several high-profile cases such as LA State Conference of the NAACP, et al. v. the State of Louisiana, et al. U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, CA No.3:19-cv-00479, wherein we won certain protections for the electorate during the past two election cycles. Michael McClanahan, et al v. Scott Wilson, et al, U. S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, CA No. 3:17-cv-1720 JWD-RLB (Free Speech issue with the City of Baton Rouge after the killing of Alton Sterling). The Louisiana State Conference's version of Souls to the Polls was pivotal in increasing black voter turnout, which helped reelect the Deep South's only Democratic Governor. His many community affiliations include The LA Governor's COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce, The Legislative Police Training Screening and De-escalation Taskforce, and the Access to Justice Committee created by the Louisiana State Supreme Court. One of his proudest moments was serving as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Director. He initiated/organized a peaceful press conference and protest after Alton Sterling's killing by a Baton Rouge Police Department Officer.

Michael is a Church of Life Fellowship Baptist Church member, where he diligently serves in several capacities, including the governing board, deacon board, co-chair of the men's and evangelistic outreach ministries. Michael is a 1983 graduate of Zwolle High School, a 1986 and 1987 graduate of The Southern University, where he earned an associate degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor's degree in sociology. Michael is a 1990 graduate of The Southern University Law Center. Michael is married to the lovely Patricia, and together they have two exceptional children: Yasmine (An NP) and Torin (A Collegiate Senior).