About
Originally from Chicago, Kiah Morris served in the Vermont General Assembly as a State Representative from 2014-2018. She is the first African-American and person of color elected from Bennington County and the second African-American woman to be elected to the legislature in Vermont history. In that capacity, she served on the House Judiciary Committee and Vermont Judicial Nominating Board and was co-chair of the tri-partisan Legislative Women's Caucus. Her capitvating life story been covered in over four dozen national and internatonal media outlets including 60 minutes, PBS, CBC Gem, CNN, The Huffington Post, New York Times, Washington Post, The Hill, Essence Magazine, Canadian Broadcasting Company, BBC Radio and Vice Media.
She is an award-winning, in-demand trainer, speaker, and presenter. She provides consultative services, workshops, and presentations on issues of diversity, equity and leadership for organizations across the globe. Kiah previously served as the Executive Director for Rights and Democracy Project (VT/NH), as a co-chair for the Vermont Commission on Women, an award-winning Sisters on the Planet Ambassador for Oxfam America, a board member for United Counseling Services, and as councilor serving on the State of Vermont Environmental Justice Advisory Council. As an equity consultant for the Vermont Climate Council, she created a comprehensive equity scoring rubric for use in review of all policies and proposals generated from the sub-committees.
Most recently, she co-designed and facilitates the year-long Bright Power Fellowship program sponsored by the Rutland chapter of the NAACP, which trains BIPOC/PGM individuals who seek to serve on nonprofit boards and governmental commissions. In 2026, the Bright Power program plans to launch an advanced cohort to include individuals currently in service or appointment. In November 2024, she will complete the Zero-L pre-law program through Harvard Law School and seeks to pursue further legal education with an interest in discrimination law. She holds a BA in Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Illinois U-C, and graduate studies at Roosevelt University. She serves as the Co-chair of the board for the Vermont Humanities Council and as a steering committee member for the Vermont Environmental Justice Network.
Kiah also holds an accomplished artistic career as an actress on stage, film, television, spoken word performance, singer, dancer, and arts manager. As an arts advocate with a passion for community-based art, she has produced numerous special events, concerts, and art exhibits during her career. Her work focuses on amplifying voices of the oppressed, issues of human rights, and social justice. She is also the author of a recently published book of poetry, Life Lessons and Lyrical Translations of My Soul, and is currently directing and producing a docuseries on race in Vermont titled Colorlines in the Green Mountains with Long Shot Productions.