Jakada Imani is working to help bring an end to the cycle of violence that plagues much of urban America and promote reinvestment in our cities using smart solutions and uplifting alternatives to violence and incarceration. A a long-time community organizer/activist Jakada led in the successful efforts to stop the construction of one of the nation's largest (per capita) juvenile halls -- an enormous 'Super Jail for Kids".

In it's 12th year of existence the Oakland-Based Ella Baker Center for Human Rights is a powerhouse in the struggle for justice, opportunity and peace. Under the direction of Jakada Imani, the center has helped close some of California's most abusive youth prisons, successfully sponsor landmark juvenile justice reform, and create new clean and green opportunities through the groundbreaking work of the Green Collar Jobs Campaign. In 2008 Jakada and the Ella Baker Center played a lead role in the landmark defeat of California's Proposition 6, a dangerous and ineffective "tough on crime" ballot measure that would have forced the state to spend more than a billion dollars annually on failed programs .

Born and raised in Oakland, California, Jakada is also the father of three powerful and creative young girls.

Show full bio

Hide full bio