Kelly Walker serves as the President/CEO of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition in Upstate South Carolina.

Kelly began in the fatherhood movement in 1998 with the fatherhood Initiative funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation. He came to this program by way of leaving the Senior Program Director for the YMCA Community Development Branch. Mr. Walker there saw a need for fathers to be in the lives of their children. While a high school teacher, Mr. Walker adopted a son at the age of 14 trying to bridge the gap of fatherlessness.

Kelly Walker is a 1986 graduate of Travelers Rest High School in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. He earned a Bachelor Degree in Social Work form Mars Hill College in Mars Hill, North Carolina. He was a graduate of the 1996 Greenville Technical College management training. He is also a graduate of the 1999 Circuit Court Civil Mediation Training.

Mr. Walker served eight years in the United States armed forces where he received an honorable discharge in 1998. Mr. Walker is also a proud member of the Kappa Alpha PSI Fraternity Inc. of 1987. Kelly is actively involved in the community and serves on many community boards/committees. He is the vice chairman of the Hope VI Committee, Greenville County Life Long Learning Committee, City Of Greenville Community Development Committee, past chairman of the Within Reach board, South Carolina Fatherhood Practitioners Network chairman/vice chairman, Greenville Housing Authority Youth Development Board, Greenville County School District School Improvement Committee, Boys Scouts Learning for Life Board, Latch Key, Inc. Board, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Leadership Greenville Development Board of Regents, task force for the future vision 2025, (strengthening families).

Mr. Walker has also represented the Fatherhood Initiative state wide by speaking at the Columbia College annual Conflict Resolution conference, Project Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha involvement (Seeing between the lines, healthy relationships with your father and SC Fatherhood Practitioner’s Network Myrtle Beach Conference.

Kelly Walker has received numerous awards during his career. He is the 2003 South Carolina Fatherhood Practitioner Award of the year, 2001 Phillis Wheatley Leadership Development Student of the year, 1998 Within Reach Outstanding Board Member and 1990 Fraternity Brother of the Year. He was also featured on the 2002-2003 cover of the Black Pages magazine, and in 2006 he was also voted one of the 50 uprising Executive Directors in the Upstate plus many other honors and accolades.

Kelly Walker is a single father. He his devoted to his two beautiful daughters and an adoptive son. He is also a life long resident in Greenville, South Carolina.

Kelly Walker was appointed to the Commission in November of 2006.

He lives in District #19.