Crystal Wagar has a more than two-decade record of fighting to expand and diversify voices in the public square in every community that she has been a part. From environmental justice to opportunities for the unhoused, from the boardroom to the courtroom to the halls of political power at every level of the American political process, Crystal is a leader, a mentor and a volunteer. An accomplished attorney, Crystal also made history as the first African American ever elected in the Village of Miami Shoes 89-year existence. Crystal is Partner at The Southern Group, a bipartisan firm where she focuses on procurement matters, strategic communications, community engagement and outreach and aids on local legislative matters.
In 2013, Crystal moved to Singapore where she spent nearly four years representing the United States of America in her role as spouse to the United States Ambassador.
Crystal has diverse work experience serving as general counsel for the Black Economic Development Coalition, interim city manager for the Village of El Portal, as well as serving as the Chief Policy Aide and Chief of Staff to a former Miami-Dade County Commissioner. Crystal has worked as an attorney with the law firms of Tew Cardenas and Becker and Poliakoff respectively before opening her own boutique government relations and strategic communications firm.
She has previously served on the executive board of Camillus House and as a board member of the Everglades Trust and the Citizens Transportation Committee of Miami-Dade County.
Crystal is also an alumnus of the Miami Fellows Initiative and the United States German Marshall Fund fellowship program.
She is a graduate of Temple University and received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.