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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Born in Damascus, Ahmad Zahra grew up between Syria and the UK. He obtained a medical degree at the age of 23 and practiced for three years before deciding to follow his passion for film and media. He immigrated to the US in the late 90’s and started working his way through Hollywood. Ahmad ran for Fullerton City Council in 2018 and won becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to serve on that seat and the first openly LGBTQ Muslim to be elected in the entire nation. His focus has beento introduce and advocated for policies that help tackle the issues of housing affordability, homelessness, infrastructure, water quality, jobs and the economic disparities that have especially impacted the ever rising number of disadvantaged neighborhoods in the city and region. He was re-elected in 2020 for a second 4 year term. Ahmad has also served on a variety of boards including, The Orange County Water District among others.
Gary R. McCarthy has served as Mayor since April 2011, bringing with him more than three decades of experience in government and a reputation as a hands-on, accessible, public servant who believes that government can be a force for positive change in the lives of its residents. He was elected to a full four-year term as Mayor in November 2011 and was re-elected in 2015, and in 2019. Mayor McCarthy co-chairs the Center for Economic Growth’s Capital Region Local Government Council, and previously served as President of the New York State Conference of Mayors. In 1981, he began his career as an Investigator in the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office.
Doreen Ditoro is a Councilmember for Schenectady, NY. Doreen is a successful small business owner and member of St. Anthony Church where she volunteers. She is also the chairperson for her community’s Little Italy.
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