I am the Executive Director of the Justice Teams Network, a statewide network of organizations working to change the way in which law enforcement engages communities through advocacy, organizing, communications, and policy. I am also the former Executive Director for the San Francisco National Lawyers Guild, a mother, a wife, an organizer, and a proud resident of Oakland, California who has dedicated the last two decades of my life to working on a myriad of social justice issues including housing, land use, education, and public safety.
Until I stepped down to run for mayor, I leveraged my role as co-host of KPFA’s morning news show "UpFront" to bring the work of justice and equity into a public forum that not only served to educate the public, but also to activate them in moments of engagement and resistance.
I have an extensive background in fighting for educational equity. One of my first orders of business as the community liaison for The Education Trust, West, was to play a leadership role in a campaign that made the A-G curriculum the default curriculum for OUSD, ensuring that every child graduates with the ability to apply to a state school. This experience has anchored my work -- not only as Executive Director of Youth Together, but also on boards and commissions such as the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth. In addition, during my tenure as Director for the National Lawyers Guild - San Francisco Bay Area, I guided an organization that provides legal support for organizers and activists on the frontlines of resistance work.
I have a BA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas I live in West Oakland with my daughter and husband.