Jamilia Land AD 18 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIA BONTA
Jamilia Land is co-founder of the Abolish Slavery National Network, a coalition committed to eradicating constitutional slavery in all its forms, and founder of the National Coalition to End Felony Murder, where she has been instrumental in advancing legislation to dismantle systemic inequities. Land’s accomplishments include critical initiatives ensuring the abolition of involuntary servitude and the protection of human dignity for incarcerated individuals. As an Executive Board Member at Large for Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), Land amplifies the voices of marginalized communities by fostering leadership development, political empowerment, and advocacy for Black women. Land’s leadership extends to serving on the board of Edifye, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that empowers communities through the collective energy of sports, and previously with the Women’s Civic Improvement Club and March On, where she leveraged her expertise to drive equity, justice, and inclusion. Through her leadership of Taking Responsibility Understanding the Harm (T.R.U.T.H.) Sessions Program, Land has implemented restorative practices within correctional facilities, promoting accountability, healing, and rehabilitation among incarcerated individuals.
Gil L. Robertson IV AD 55 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER ISAAC G. BRYAN
Gil L. Robertson IV is a veteran journalist and co-founder and President of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the premier body of Black film critics worldwide and producer of the annual AAFCA Awards. A member of the National Press Club, Robertson is a veteran journalist with more than 50 national magazine covers to his credit. As an editor, Robertson is responsible for three successful anthologies, two of which have been nominated for the NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Nonfiction. A Los Angeles native, Robertson earned a BA degree in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles. He serves on the boards for the Geena Davis Institute and California Humanities. Robertson is a member of the National Press Club, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science, the National Academy of Television Arts & Science, and the Motion Picture Association of America.
Jasmond Nelson AD 57 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER SADE ELHAWARY
Jasmond Nelson is a native Angeleno with more than 15 years of experience serving youth who have been impacted by homelessness, trafficking, mental health, and substance abuse. Nelson’s passion stems from her lived experience as a former foster youth who also experienced homelessness. Nelson has 10 years experience as Director of Youth Services, implementing wraparound services for homeless youth which includes outreach, drop-in centers, transitional housing, and permanent housing to ensure all youth can have permanency. After experiencing the tragic loss of her sister Nathesia Lewis in 2022, Nelson took a leap of faith and started Inspire Together, a youth counseling service, in honor of her sister to give back to the community in which they grew up. Inspire Together now has multiple youth services locations offering housing, apprentice training, substance abuse and mental health support, drop-in centers, reentry services, and essential needs.
Dr. Keith Curry AD 65 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIKE A. GIPSON
Dr. Keith Curry is the President/CEO of Compton College and Compton Community College District (CCCD). Under his leadership, many existing student services programs have expanded and others were created including the First Year Experience (FYE) program and the Tartar Support program established in 2017 to offer a food pantry and other support for students facing food and housing insecurities. Additionally, Dr. Curry established the Formerly Incarcerated Students in Transition (FIST) program in Fall 2016 and was honored with the prestigious Dr. John W. Rice Diversity & Equity Award for Advancing Social Mobility by the Foundation for California Community Colleges just one year later. Dr. Curry is passionate about preparing students for higher education, guided pathways, bridging the digital divide, establishing partnerships among postsecondary institutions, and ensuring access for all students.
Ernest Rhoné IV AD 60 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER COREY A. JACKSON, DSW
Ernest Rhoné IV is a lifelong educator, mentor, and leader whose passion for teaching has shaped generations. A retired educator from the Rialto Unified School District, he dedicated over 30 years to inspiring students, mentoring teachers, and developing impactful educational programs. His commitment extended beyond the classroom, serving as Director of Student Activities, Department Chair for History/Social Science, and mentor to new educators. Beyond education, Rhoné is a veteran who served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. His leadership also extends to his church, where he is deeply involved in ministry and mentorship. A proud resident of Moreno Valley, he remains active in his community, contributing his time as an advisor to the Moreno Valley-based nonprofit SBX Youth & Family Services, continuing to mentor young people and serve others. For Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson, DSW, honoring Ernest Rhoné IV is deeply personal. As a former student, mentee, and beneficiary of his guidance, Dr. Jackson recognizes his profound influence and enduring impact.
Cinder Eller-Kimbell AD 61 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER TINA S. McKINNOR
Cinder Eller-Kimbell is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and proud community leader. For three decades, Eller-Kimbell has been a vital part of the Inglewood Police Department, taking on various roles that have allowed her to make a positive impact in her community. Her position as the Senior Community Affairs and Homeless Liaison has been particularly rewarding. She has served on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Homeless Council and has led the Annual Homeless Count for 13 years. Additionally, she is a member of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board and the South Bay Coalition to End Homelessness. Notably, she is also recognized as the first Black female bailiff on the show Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez . Eller-Kimbell’s passion for helping others goes beyond her job. She founded The Glass Slipper Foundation, Inc., which provides essential resources to individuals in need. As a recent breast cancer survivor, she knows the value of resilience and support, which drives her to create a positive change in the lives of those around her.
Dr. Clara Coleman Voss AD 13 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER RHODESIA RANSOM
Dr. Clara Coleman Voss is a distinguished educator and mentor who has transformed many lives. A dedicated advocate for education, she retired in 2011 as Senior Vice President and Regional Operations Officer for Edison Learning, where she oversaw the education of more than 350,000 students nationwide. Her career spans decades of leadership, including roles as a teacher, principal, deputy superintendent, and superintendent — each dedicated to student success and educational excellence. As President and CEO of CDS & Associates, she continues to provide career coaching, team building, leadership development, and board training. Dr. Voss has served as President of the Tracy African American Association, a member of the Measure E and Measure S Oversight Committees for Tracy Unified School District, and a dedicated trustee of her church. Currently, she holds key leadership roles as Vice President of the Tracy Seniors Association and Secretary for Sow A Seed Community Foundation.
Dr. Elaine Batchlor SD 35 | SENATOR LAURA RICHARDSON
Dr. Elaine Batchlor is the CEO of MLK Community Healthcare, a CMS 5-star-rated hospital and health system that provides quality care to 1.3 million residents of the medically underserved community of South Los Angeles. In this role, as well as in previous positions as Chief Medical Officer for LA Care, the nation’s largest public insurance plan, Dr. Batchlor has devoted her career to reducing health disparities and expanding health care quality and access for the most vulnerable. Her innovative efforts to address Medi-Cal provider shortages, payment inequities, and other structural and environmental obstacles to health earned her the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award and the Partners in Care Vision and Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Award. In 2019, she was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and, in 2023, she was appointed as a Regent of the University of California system. Her first-hand observations of the people, policy, and payment challenges to health equity have been widely published in the media. A rheumatologist by training, Dr. Batchlor is a graduate of Harvard University, Case Western Reserve, and the University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health.
Tyra Hawthorne AD 79 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER LASHAE SHARP-COLLINS, EdD
Tyra Hawthorne, a Marine Corps veteran and the Founder, CEO, and Executive Director of Heartbeat Music & Performing Arts Academy (HBMPAA), has dedicated over a decade to serving San Diego youth. Her journey began with the creation of the Thunder Squad Drumline program at the Jackie Robinson YMCA, introducing Black and Brown youth to the traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBMPAA was established in 2014, focusing on training middle and high school students to audition for HBCU music and dance scholarships. In 2020, she expanded HBMPAA to include Preschool 4 The Arts, offering arts-integrated preschool to low-income families. Hawthorne’s efforts have extended from San Diego to Oceanside and Riverside County, now serving hundreds of families. In 2020, her commitment was recognized by City Council President pro Tempore Monica Montgomery Steppe, who proclaimed July 30th as Tyra Hawthorne Day. Today, she operates six HBMPAA sites, offering free childcare and after school programs, making a significant impact in the San Diego area.
Karen Mack SD 28 | SENATOR LOLA SMALLWOOD-CUEVAS
Karen Mack is a visionary leader dedicated to using arts and culture to empower individuals, strengthen communities, and foster connections in Los Angeles. She founded LA Commons, a South LA-based nonprofit that implements artistic and cultural programs to engage residents, promote dialogue, and address key issues like health, transportation, and education. Through grassroots projects, LA Commons amplifies community voices, particularly those of young people. Previously, Mack was a Public Service Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School, researching culture’s role in community building, and served as Vice President at Community Partners, overseeing program development. She holds an MPA from Harvard University and an MBA from University of California, Los Angeles. A dedicated civic leader, she is a mayoral appointee to the Los Angeles Planning Commission and has led multiple city initiatives. Beyond her work, she is devoted to her family, sings in her local choir, and remains committed to making Los Angeles a more inclusive city.
Tasha Williamson SD 39 | SENATOR AKILAH WEBER PIERSON, MD
Tasha Williamson is a civil and human rights activist leading the fight against police misconduct, systemic injustices, and community disenfranchisement. A mother of four, her goal is to pursue a Master’s in Peace and Justice alongside a Juris Doctorate, further strengthening her dedication to advocacy and legal reform. Tasha is the founder of Project Safeway, a community-first responder initiative that assisted over 80,000 individuals from 2008 to 2019. The program mobilized organizations and community members to respond to scenes of violence, offering immediate support to victims and attempted homicide survivors. Many participating groups later established their own community-first responder teams, expanding the initiative’s impact. She worked directly with law enforcement at crime scenes to provide critical victim support while simultaneously pushing for policy changes to reduce over-criminalization. She co-developed community-police engagement training, bringing together law enforcement, probation officials, and marginalized communities to foster dialogue and accountability.
Delphine Metcalf-Foster AD 11 | ASSEMBLYMEMBER LORI D. WILSON
Delphine Metcalf-Foster, a disabled US Army veteran from Vallejo, CA, was elected National Commander of the over 1-million-member Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at the 2017 National Convention in New Orleans. She served in the US Army Reserve with the 689th Quartermaster, 6253rd Hospital, and 6211th Transportation Units at Letterman Army Medical Center, retiring as a first sergeant in 1996. In January 1991, while supporting the Grave Registration Company mission during Desert Storm/Desert Shield in Saudi Arabia, she was injured and medically evacuated to Germany. A life member of DAV Chapter 21, she has served on the First Data Military Advisory Council and DAV’s California Claims and Service Committee. A retired Quality Assurance work leader at Alameda Naval Air Station, she holds degrees in psychology and liberal studies from Solano Community College and Sonoma State University. She resides in Vallejo with her three children, Linda, Shawn, and Dana.