Dawn Moore

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Dawn Moore

| image = Dawn Moore.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2023

| alt = Official headshot of Dawn Moore in February 2023

| office = First Lady of Maryland

| governor = Wes Moore

| status = Current

| term_label = Assumed role

| term_start = January 18, 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Yumi Hogan

| successor =

| birth_name = Dawn Chanté Flythe

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|8|8}}

| birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Democratic

| spouse = {{marriage|Wes Moore|2007}}

| children = 2

| residence = Government House

| education =

| alma_mater = University of Maryland, College Park (BA)

}}

Dawn Chanté Flythe Moore (née Flythe; born August 8, 1975){{Cite tweet |user=GovWesMoore |number=1689022950177927168 |author=Governor Wes Moore |author-link=Wes Moore |date=August 8, 2023 |title=Happy Birthday to my First and forever Lady, @DawnFlytheMoore! You are my compass and our family's heartbeat. Here's to you love, today and always. |access-date=August 8, 2023}} is an American philanthropist, community organizer, campaign strategist, and the current First Lady of Maryland as the wife of Governor Wes Moore. She is the first African-American First Lady of the state.

Early life and education

Flythe was born in Bayside, Queens, to father Earl Flythe, a crane operator for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14, and mother Pandora Flythe, a music teacher at Public School 100 in South Ozone Park. She graduated from St. Francis Preparatory School.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=John-John IV |title=From Morgan to the top of Sean Combs' liquor empire |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/features/baltimore-insider/bs-lt-dia-simms-20160728-story.html |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 28, 2016}} She later attended University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree{{cite web |title=Dawn Flythe Moore, First Lady of Maryland |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/gov/firstlady/html/msa18375.html |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=December 24, 2024}} in government and politics and a certificate in women's studies in 1997.{{cite news |title=Dawn Moore to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award from Bmorenews & Partners |url=https://bmorenews.com/blackwallstreet/dawn-moore-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-from-bmorenews-partners/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=BmoreNews.com |date=August 22, 2022}}

Career

Flythe began her career in government and politics, accepting the position of Special Assistant to the Secretary in the Community and Intergovernmental Relations Division under Maryland Secretary of State John T. Willis, quickly being promoted as Director of that division. She later worked as a senior policy advisor to Maryland lieutenant governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, eventually becoming her field director during the 2002 Maryland gubernatorial election.

In 2004, Flythe ran for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention, representing U.S. senator John Edwards.{{cite news |title=Maryland Democratic delegation studded with notable state politicians |url=https://thedailyrecord.com/2004/07/23/maryland-democratic-delegation-studded-with-notable-state-politicians/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=The Daily Record |date=July 23, 2004}} She won the Democratic primary, receiving 8.9 percent of the vote.{{cite web |title=2004 Presidential Primary - Official Results: Female Delegate to the National Democratic Convention |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2004/results/p_female_democratic_delegate.html |website=elections.maryland.gov |publisher=Maryland State Board of Elections |access-date=October 8, 2022 |date=April 6, 2004}} However, Flythe did not check in with the rest of the Maryland delegation nor show up to the convention, leading to Democratic Party officials calling up Louise Gallun to serve as an alternate delegate.{{cite news |last1=Bacchus |first1=Joseph |title=Maryland Convention Delegate a No-show in Boston |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2004/07/26/maryland-convention-delegate-a-no-show-in-boston/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=Capital News Service |date=July 26, 2004}}

During the 2006 Maryland gubernatorial election, Flythe organized a fundraising committee for Martin O'Malley's gubernatorial candidacy. In December 2006, Maryland lieutenant governor-elect Anthony Brown named Flythe as his director of intergovernmental affairs.{{cite news |last1=Yakaitis |first1=Chris |title=O'Malley's Staff Taking Shape as Appointments Progress |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/2006/12/05/omalleys-staff-taking-shape-as-appointments-progress/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=Capital News Service |date=December 5, 2006}} She later served as his chief of staff until June 2007.{{cite news |last1=Deutch |first1=Gabby |title=Wes Moore bets on Maryland |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2021/10/wes-moore-maryland-governor-democratic-primary/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=Jewish Insider |date=October 18, 2021}} In February 2022, the Baltimore Center Stage appointed Moore to its Board of Trustees.{{cite news |title=Baltimore Center Stage announces the appointment of seven Trustees |url=https://afro.com/baltimore-center-stage-announces-the-appointment-of-seven-trustees/ |access-date=October 8, 2022 |work=Baltimore Afro-American |date=February 11, 2022}}

First Lady of Maryland

File:Public Swearing In (52644184111).jpg and their children at the Maryland gubernatorial inauguration, 2023]]

Moore became the First Lady of Maryland on January 18, 2023, as her husband Wes Moore was inaugurated as governor of Maryland.{{cite news |last1=Cox |first1=Erin |last2=Wiggins |first2=Ovetta |title=Wes Moore sworn in, making history as Md.’s first Black governor |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/01/18/wes-moore-maryland-governor-inauguration/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |work=The Washington Post |date=January 18, 2023}} She is the first African-American first lady of the state.{{cite news |last1=Kromer |first1=Mileah |title=Perspective: Dawn Flythe Moore also made history and now faces own set of challenges |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/opinion/community-voices/perspective-dawn-moore-also-made-history-and-now-faces-own-set-of-challenges-6PSIBTXNFFH7TCBW3F77M44DAY/ |access-date=July 14, 2023 |work=Baltimore Banner |date=January 25, 2023}} As first lady, Moore worked with her husband on issues involving military families, mental health, women's economic empowerment, and arts and culture. During the 2024 legislative session, she testified for the Families Service Act, a bill allowing companies to give preferential hiring to military spouses.{{cite news |last1=Gruskin |first1=Abigail |title=Maryland’s first lady is trying to ‘raise amazing human beings’ in the limelight |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/05/08/marylands-first-lady-dawn-moore-profile/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=May 8, 2024}}

Personal life

Moore met Wes Moore in Washington, D.C. in 2002. They moved to the Riverside community in Baltimore in 2006.{{cite news |last1=Calvert |first1=Scott |title=Author Wes Moore got undeserved tax breaks |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bal-author-wes-moore-got-undeserved-homestead-credits-20130614-story.html |access-date=June 2, 2022 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=June 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603012454/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bal-author-wes-moore-got-undeserved-homestead-credits-20130614-story.html |url-status=live}} The couple eloped in Las Vegas while Wes was on a brief leave from Afghanistan and were married by an Elvis impersonator.{{cite news |last1=Antrim |first1=Taylor |title=Wes Moore On Gen Z, Social Media, Winning Over Republicans, and Why "Service Will Save Us" |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/wes-moore-interview-2023/amp |access-date=July 23, 2023 |work=Vogue |date=July 18, 2023}} Their official wedding ceremony was held on July 6, 2007.{{cite news |title=Dawn Flythe, Westley Moore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/fashion/weddings/08flythe.html |access-date=June 2, 2022 |work=New York Times |date=July 8, 2007 |archive-date=June 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603012440/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/08/fashion/weddings/08flythe.html |url-status=live}} They have two children, born 2011 and 2013.{{cite news |title=Being Wes Moore |url=https://www.baltimorestyle.com/being-wes-moore/ |access-date=June 2, 2022 |work=Baltimorestyle.com |date=June 17, 2015 |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020123034/https://www.baltimorestyle.com/being-wes-moore/ |url-status=live}}

In late 2008, the Moores moved from Riverside to Guilford, where they lived until Wes Moore's election as governor in 2022.{{cite news |last1=Janesch |first1=Sam |title=Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore home sells for $2.5M |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-moore-house-sold-20230717-merlmdmbyraq5fu355f5ge26xu-story.html |access-date=July 17, 2023 |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 17, 2023}} They reside in Government House, the official residence of the Maryland governor and First Family in Annapolis, Maryland.{{cite news |last1=Mosbrucker |first1=Kristen |title=Gov. Wes Moore's Baltimore City home is up for sale with $2.7M price tag |url=https://www.wypr.org/wypr-news/2023-02-22/gov-wes-moores-baltimore-city-home-is-up-for-sale-with-2-7m-price-tag |access-date=February 22, 2023 |work=WYPR |date=February 22, 2023}}

Moore was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her late twenties.{{cite news |title=Maryland's first lady shares she is living with multiple sclerosis |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/marylands-first-lady-shares-she-is-living-with-multiple-sclerosis?taid=64220ae0cb00fe0001c12842 |access-date=March 29, 2023 |work=WTTG |date=March 27, 2023}} She controlled the disease with medication, which she stopped taking once she started having children, and now manages her condition with a strong physical fitness routine, which includes yoga and meditation.{{cite news |last1=Knier |first1=Rebecca |last2=Kopania |first2=Tom |last3=Martin-Ewing |first3=Samara |last4=Seymour |first4=Allison |title=Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore opens up about MS diagnosis |url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/maryland-dawn-moore-multiple-sclerosis/65-6f66fbd6-483d-4489-83b1-fc68bc37910e |access-date=March 29, 2023 |work=WUSA-TV |date=March 28, 2023}} In March 2023, Moore said that her MS was in remission.{{cite news |last1=VerHelst |first1=Megan |title=Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore Reveals She Has Multiple Sclerosis |url=https://patch.com/maryland/annapolis/maryland-first-lady-dawn-moore-reveals-she-has-multiple-sclerosis |access-date=March 29, 2023 |work=Patch Media |date=March 28, 2023}}