communicator. CREATIVE. former Biden-Harris Appointee. Made in the Palmetto State. DC-BASED.
THE MAN
Daniel James II is a media + comms professional, aspiring political leader, and native of Marion, South Carolina. An alumnus of Cornell University, he is a 2023 Schwarzman Scholar, having obtained a Master's degree in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Thesis: How Did China See George Floyd Die?)
THE MILL
He is the inaugural Digital Communications Congressional Fellow through the Center for Economic and Policy Research. In this role, he assists the Congressional Progressive Caucus and its U.S. House and Senate members with press + social media operations.
Prior to that, he served as Special Assistant for Public Engagement at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, also known as NTIA, engaging with the public & key stakeholders across the nation on the success of broadband deployment, ensuring accessible internet and technology for America.
The People Behind the Programs: Names & Faces of NTIA
Producer, Editor, Narrator | "The People Behind the Programs: Names & Faces of NTIA" highlights an agency committed to ensuring that every resident across the nation has access to affordable, reliable, and high-speed Internet.
NTIA in One Word
Creator, Editor, Producer | NTIA in One Word presents testimonials from NTIA staffers on the agency and the impact of Internet for All initiatives on America…using only one word.
The Culture Connect
Host, Creator, Editor (S1) | Culture Connect podcast highlights South Carolina’s minority communities with the aim to improve their quality of life, highlight opportunities, and provide resources.
Black Voices on the Hill
Host, Creator, Editor, Producer | Black Voices on the Hill WVBR 93.5 FM centers Black lives, amplifies Black stories, and enhances the Black experience at Cornell University, greater Ithaca, Capitol Hill, and beyond. We cover topics ranging from racism, police brutality, colorism, and sexism to Greek life, and the Ivy League.
TEDx Talk
Presenter | As the creator and host of Black Voices on the Hill, a podcast and radio show, Daniel James amplifies the voices of Black students, alumni, and city leaders. Moved by the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, James has been able to reach thousands in upstate New York, talking weekly about racism, sexism, and activism on his podcasts, with guests ranging from TikTok sensations, investment fund creators, to the city mayor himself. James' talk encompasses his experience studying at a predominantly white institution and learning to be his authentic self, despite facing micro aggressions.
Daniel has found rewarding work in amplifying marginalized voices through his congressional work, his TEDx Talk, but most importantly via his two podcasts and radio show. Black Voices on the Hill and The Culture Connect have transformed conversations into campaigns for social, economic, and political action.
When Daniel is not working in Washington, D.C., he can be found in the Columbia Metropolitan Area of South Carolina or being active in The Door of Hope Church’s social media + youth ministries in his hometown.