The first African American ever elected to the New Mexico Senate, Harold was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, the city known as the “Home of Heroes” because it is the hometown of four “Congressional Medal of Honour” recipients. Growing up in this community was the reason to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after high school graduation. While in the Air Force he worked as a dental technician and took college courses in the evening. After finishing his term of enlistment Harold decided to leave active duty, join the reserves, and attend college full-time where he enrolled at the University of New Mexico and would graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry. These life experiences growing up, serving in the military, leading non-profit organizations, and working for the city have provided him with the essential leadership, perspective, and critical thinking skills needed to serve in the New Mexico Legislature. Harold is a member of the Elected Officials to Protect America - New Mexico Leadership Council.
Sandra Scott is a US Army veteran. She is the engagement chair for the National Foundation of Women Legislators and represents Rex, Georgia. She previously served as the Chairperson of the Clayton County Delegation, Vice Chair of the Clayton and Henry County Delegation, Vice Chair and Whip of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus amongst many other notable appointments. These high level leadership roles highlight her ability to work collaboratively, build consensus and navigate complex legislative processes to achieve meaningful outcomes. Throughout her career she has actively contributed to shaping policies that promote equality, social justice and economic empowerment of marginalized communities. Her tireless dedication to public service and advocacy for these communities have solidified her reputation as a trailblazer and influential figure in state politics. She serves as a member of Elected Officials of America National Leadership Council.
In New Jersey Joyce founded the H.O.P.E summer program for children which presents a safe, caring and educational environment. She is the founder of Women Working Together for change; a program which empowers women physically, emotionally, economically and politically. Joyce has been a volunteer Chaplin for over 30 years at Eastern State Prison and 8 years at Clinton State Prison. Joyce and her husband are the founders and Pastors of Continuous Flow Christian Center, where they bring life- changing words of strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Joyce is the first African American woman elected as Council President for the City of Jersey City.
Jason is 17-year Army veteran who is currently serving as a Military Intelligence Officer in the California National Guard. Prior to commissioning, he was a Human Intelligence Collector NCO who was deployed twice to Afghanistan in 2006 and 2009. From 2020 onwards, he served as one of the CA National Guard liaisons to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services to help coordinate responses to Covid-19, wildfires, floods, and civil unrest. He currently has an additional duty of being the Task Force CBRNE Battle Captain. His current full-time civilian job is the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program Coordinator for Yolo County in Northern California. Jason also volunteers with several veteran's groups to include American Legion, VFW, Team RWB, and Team Rubicon. With Team Rubicon he volunteered and responded to natural disasters all over the US and even internationally.
Angelo Santabarbara inspires family, friends and colleagues with his devotion to helping people and enriching his community. Born in the City of Schenectady, he is a lifelong resident of Schenectady County currently residing in the Town of Rotterdam. Angelo attended public schools and graduated from State University of New York at Albany where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Angelo worked in Civil Engineering for more than 15 years before taking office in the New York State Assembly. He served as President of the Capital District Chapter New York State Society of Professional Engineers. Angelo served in the US Army Reserve for eight years with an honorable discharge in 1998. He has remained involved with veteran service organizations and was the founder of AMVETS Post 35 in his hometown of Rotterdam where he served as Post Commander. Angelo is an Elected Officials to Protect America National Leadership Council member.
After facing a hardships and becoming homeless during Antony's latter childhood years, he became determined to make something of himself so he moved out when he was sixteen. He graduated at seventeen. and joined the United States Marine Corps which brought him to Memphis where he has been dedicated to creating opportunities for those around him for personal and professional growth. Upon arriving in Memphis, he served on Shelby County Fire Department and retired a fire lieutenant after 25 years of service. As a retired firefighter, business owner, and member of Breath of Life Christian Center, he worked hard before I was elected to the House of Representatives.
Rosalinda Vierra had her first child when she was 17 years old and nearly ended up homeless at the age of 19 which droveher to help others and understand the mindset needed to achieve success regardless of the barriers life presents. In 2020, she started her term on the Measure H, overseeing the city’s Public Safety Tax Spending before being elected as the first Latina city councilmember in 2022 and is a strong advocate for education in her city and state. She’s currently also a certified student success specialist helping students overcome the barriers to reach their educational goals. Additionally, she waselected to the Stanislaus County Economic Development Action Committee where she ended up creating the annual county CEDS. Rosalinda believes that through the Public Leadership Certificate Program she can expand her knowledge and effectiveness to create, communicate and implement policy.
Neil Rafferty, is a State Representative and a former Marine Corps veteran who after his term of service in the military, Rafferty used his G.I. Bill benefits to earn degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Rafferty’s lifetime of service has been at the core of his career. He has worked to advance the interests of our community’sunderserved as a Program Director at BAO in Birmingham. His role included managing an intensive collaboration with community members, partner nonprofits, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), state and county health departments, and clinics to implement community-coordinated, public health strategies. In the legislature, Rafferty serves on the following commit-tees: Sunset; Health; Economic Development and Tourism; Constitutions, Campaigns, and Elections.
Naquetta Ricks is the first African immigrant to be elected to the Colorado General Assembly, and the first Liberian American to be elected to any state legislature. When she was only 13, she was forced to flee civil war in Liberia, and her family settled in Aurora, Colorado. As a leading Black woman in business and politics, she works tirelessly to improve her community by helping build economic knowledge, and by championing the rights of immigrants and refugees. In her first session in the General Assembly, she led the fight on groundbreaking legislation including the creation of the Immigration Legal Defense Fund, the Diverse K-12 Educator Workforce Report, the Towing Bill of Rights, and the Behavioral Health-care Continuum Gap Grant Program.
Clint is a Councilmember for Grover Beach, California and Senior District representative for Senator John Laird (SD-17) at the San Luis Obispo County Office where he brings his wealth of knowledge in policy, national security, environment and advancement of offshore wind in California. Clint is a graduate of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office’s Citizens Academy Graduate, Sierra Club national life member and sits on numerous boards of state and national level non- governmental organizations providing them with strategic advice and direction. He believes that there is much that is needed to be done locally to create real progress; however, action is continually needed at higher state and federal levels to maximize and encourage more progress collectively to achieve goals that reduce or reverse negative impacts such as climate change.
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