LaTanja Silvester

Senior Policy Advisor for Labor and Climate at Oxfam America

LaTanja Silvester is a seasoned policy advisor, labor leader, and political strategist with over two decades of experience driving equity, workforce development, and economic justice across the South. She currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor for Labor and Climate at Oxfam America, leading initiatives in Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, and North Carolina to strengthen wages, worker protections, and climate resilience for vulnerable communities. Previously, LaTanja served as President of Service Employees International Union Local 21 LA, representing thousands of Louisiana public sector workers. Under her leadership, the union secured historic contracts, expanded pay equity, and developed labor–management partnerships that continue to impact public sector workers today.

Her career reflects a deep commitment to amplifying voices too often left out of decision-making and cultivating new leaders from within communities. Whether through organizing, policy reform, or coalition building, she has consistently advanced strategies that protect dignity, expand equity, and create pathways for opportunity across the South.