Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi & John Wood, Jr.

Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi (Left)
For the past decade, Kokayi Kwa Jitahidi has been a leader on key issues throughout the region. After helping to build a strong union for early childhood educators in Southern California, Kokayi joined the staff of the Community Coalition of South Los Angeles in 2006. He became the Director of Youth Organizing and founding Director of Civic Engagement, where he initiated a groundbreaking campaign around increasing mental health services for youth.   In 2009, he co-founded the MAAT Institute for Community Change, which has successfully developed school-based programs for at-risk students, stopped the increase of liquor outlets, brought investment into local communities and continues to provide consultation to an array of respected community organizations and political figures.

Kokayi now serves as Policy Director for the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. He is in charge of developing and implementing campaigns that expand access to good, quality jobs and helped build strong labor and community coalitions.  In addition to his work with LA County Fed, Kokayi also serves as a professor at LA Trade Tech College and a board member for Economic Roundtable. He is a graduate of UCLA. Most importantly, Kokayi is a proud father of growing daughter and son.

Website: TheLAFed.org

John Wood, Jr. (Center)
A consistent voice for Black conservatives in the Los Angeles area of the Republican party.  Wood ran in 2014 for Congress against long-time Rep. Maxine Waters, where he received about 30% of the vote.  His platform centered around breaking the gridlock in DC by working with elected leaders on all sides, passing policies that create real economic opportunities for African Americans and other people of color, passing responsible budgets that honor the taxes paid by hardworking people, and reforming our immigration system.  John Wood, Jr. is a native of Inglewood.

Website: Better Angels