Building Multi-Racial Coalitions: Challenges & Opportunities - 11/6/2023

Conversation Overview

As Election Day approaches, join Ana Guerrero and Umar Hakim-Dey as they share their insights on fostering unity and equity in our communities. Our conversationalists have substantial experience in community organizing and commitment to addressing racial disparities, and are dedicated to exploring the challenges and opportunities building muti-racial coalitions.

Ana Guerrero is an organizational strategist with more than 30 years of experience in leading organizations and campaigns, building multi-racial coalitions, and developing public policy. Guerrero began her career as a community organizer in 1990 with the Sonoma County Faith-Based Community Organizing Project, where she worked on affordable housing campaigns. In 1995, she joined the United Neighborhoods Organization (UNO) in Los Angeles and lead a campaign to naturalize and civically engage more than 5,000 Latino immigrants. From 2006-2021, Guerrero worked in Los Angeles City government, serving as Chief of Staff to Eric Garcetti during his time as City Council President and later, as Mayor. Guerrero has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the 2013 Ray of Hope Award from Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), the 2017 Women for a New Los Angeles Award from the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), the 2017 Helen F. Chavez Award from the United Farmworkers, and the 2019 Gender Justice Champion Award from the Women’s Foundation of California. In 2021, Guerrero received an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from the University of La Verne. Guerrero is an immigrant from Mexico and is the daughter of farmworkers. She holds a B.A. degree in Liberal Arts from Antioch College. Guerrero is mother to three adult children and lives with her husband in La Crescenta, California.

Umar Hakim-Dey is a Compton, California native who has a decade of experience as a director in a faith-based organization, achieving notable grassroots success in community service. He now leads the INKERIJ Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Social Enterprise, with a unique focus on community building by blending business and community service into a social entrepreneurial model, particularly to combat post-pandemic social issues. With a background in Business Management and a Masters in Ethical Leadership, his approach is rooted in the transferable skills and wisdom he gained in Compton. Umar founded INKERIJ® (pronounced as Encourage), an advisory organization aimed at building capacity for purpose-driven entities and individuals through program development, audience insights, and personalized leadership coaching. His mission is to help individuals re-imagine their hidden potential, fostering confidence based on core values, and offering clear steps for leaders to create a more relevant and responsible culture. Umar also actively supports INKERIJ Foundation's programming and social-preneurial vision, emphasizing an intuitive educational experience to empower the local Los Angeles community. Drawing from the key principle of Situational Leadership, he organizes diverse components for developing future leaders, encourages interfaith dialogue, and nurtures relationships across various genres and with positive individuals. Umar's involvement extends to leadership and entrepreneurship networks, serving as a facilitator trainer for a national program at the USC Center of Religion Civic Culture. Through this role, he has contributed to civic-social organizations, including the NewGround Muslim ~ Jewish Partnership for Change, established a partnership with the California/LA Voice PICO network, and remains an active community organizer in the City of Los Angeles.