Primary Election Date: 06/05/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

For almost 40 years, Greg Akili has fought to increase safety and security for our community on the local, state and national level.

Akili’s life-long commitment to service began during the Civil Rights movement, when he joined the fight to end the system of legal racial discrimination and increase opportunities for African Americans and other minorities. A bridge builder from the beginning, he worked as an organizer the United Farm Workers (UFW) under the leadership of the Cesar Chavez. Akili also helped form the United Domestic Workers union in an historical effort to improve the work conditions and safety of thousands of female in-home workers throughout California.

In a span of four decades, he has led organizations and trained hundreds of residents in the areas of community organizing, community development, planning, fund raising and more.

Currently, Akili serves as the National Field Director for the Social Security Works Campaign, the major national effort to protect and strengthen Social Security for our seniors and future generations.
Prior to his work to save Social Security, Akili served as the Senior Manager of Field Training and Western Region Field Director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In that capacity, he helped lead the organizing for the 2010 One Nation March and Rally in Washington DC. Akili’s efforts helped bring tens of thousands of people to the nation’s capital to demand investment in jobs, quality schools and healthcare.

Always fighting for justice and working people, he proudly served thousands of state employees as Senior Political and Community Organizer with Service Employees International Union Local 1000. Akili has also served as the South Los Angeles Field Director for the Obama for America campaign, Project Coordinator for the Center for Parents Involvement in Education (CPIE), a Coordinator for the United Summer of Peace Coalition, Regional Director for Neighbor to Neighbor Health Security Campaign, Director for African American Organizing Union, Coordinator for Campaign Against Apartheid, and Executive Director for the Non-Profit Federation for Housing and Community Development.

A proud Progressive Democrat, Akili has been a leader in supporting progressive candidates and issues. In addition to his work to elect President Obama, Akili has also served as a National Organizer for Jesse Jackson for President, Coordinator for the Milwaukee Campaign to Ban Handguns, Field Coordinator for Carol Moseley Braun Senatorial Campaign, National Training Director for National Jobs with Peace, and Trainer/Coordinator for Farm Labor Organizing Committee. In 2004, he was a Trainer for the Democratic National Committee in the battleground states of Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana and Ohio. Akili was also the Deputy Coordinator for the Cuyahoga Kerry/Edward campaign and Coordinator of the Field and Canvass operations in Cleveland, Ohio.

In addition to his work as a community organizer, Akili has also served as Special Assistant to past California Assembly Speakers Antonio R. Villaraigosa and Herb Wesson Jr. He also worked with former Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally

Why Am I Running?

I'm a candidate becuse of my beliefs and history of public service and activism:

• People are our greatest resource
• Regular people can do great things as we have proven time and time again – if we approached people and seek to get them involved
• Everyone deserves a chance to succeed
• Working people must have a voice in government and be treated with dignity and respect
• Government must play an active role in our society
• California cannot cut its way to prosperity – we must all pay our fair share; starting with closing tax loop holes for the wealthy
• We must invest in the industries of the future – today

I want to involve and engage residents in the political process and demonstrate how we can make changes and improve the community based on progressive values

Hold Me Accountable!

Jobs, education,

Make Smart Investments to Create Local Jobs and Industry

◦Coordinate different state agencies to create quality jobs
◦Develop local training programs for high growth industries
◦Increase opportunities for locally-owned businesses
◦Increase number of clean energy producers in State
◦Fight against employment discrimination and wage theft

Improve Our Public Schools

I believe our schools need: high expectations, quality leadership, caring staff and manageable class sizes
◦I will work to encourage collaboration between our parents, teachers, classified, other school staff and members of the education community to improve schools
◦Develop legislation that improves Special Education
◦Create fair and effective evaluations for school staff and leadership
◦Fair disciple policies to stop the school to prison pile line

Protect Our Safety Net Services

◦Develop and support legislation to protect homeowners in the foreclosure process
◦Conduct investigation into civil rights violations in the foreclosure process
◦Remove barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals to get jobs
◦Ensure that we receive quality transportation service
◦Defend low income health care programs that work (Medi-Cal, IHSS, restore Denti-Cal)
◦I will fight for the workers who provide support and services to the elderly and disable
◦Introduce and support legislation that would help seniors and working people buy affordable drugs

My DFA values:

My Campaign is People-Powered!

Hosting regular issue listening session on: jobs and the economy, education, public safety to hear from residents;
Established a 48th Assembly Organizing Committee of community residents and canvass and surveying residents in the neighborhoods to solicit input and concerns