About Kristerfer Burnett

Kristerfer Burnett serves as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs. In this role, he helps strengthen connections between city government and Baltimore’s communities, working alongside neighborhood leaders, community-based organizations, and residents to ensure people can access services and see their concerns reflected in city action. 

Burnett joined the administration from the Office of Equity and Civil Rights, where he served as Deputy Chief Equity Officer supporting work to eliminate inequity, inequality, and discrimination. Prior to that, he represented District 8 for two terms on the Baltimore City Council, providing leadership as Chair of the Health Committee and Vice-Chair of the Executive Appointments Committee. A lifelong Baltimorean, he represented more than 40,000 residents across 27 neighborhoods in Northwest and Southwest Baltimore. 

First elected in 2016, Burnett has focused his public service on racial and economic justice, advancing approaches to public safety grounded in public health, expanding access to livable-wage jobs, supporting environmental sustainability, and strengthening accountability in local government. His legislative work includes advancing publicly financed elections through the Baltimore City Fair Elections Fund, leading efforts to codify the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, and co-sponsoring the Equity Assessment Program and Fund. 

Burnett has also supported the development of local leaders nationally as co-chair of the Board of Directors for Local Progress, where he has trained and mentored newly elected officials through leadership development programming. He has served on the boards of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, Turn Around, Inc., Live Baltimore, and Hope Harbor. 

Earlier in his career, Burnett worked as Lead Organizer for Good Jobs Better Baltimore, a campaign led by SEIU 1199, and later served as Director of Community Organizing at Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc.. He holds a B.A. in African American Studies from University of Maryland, College Park and an M.P.P. from University of Maryland, Baltimore County.