REGGIE
GET TO KNOW
Humble Beginnings
Reggie knows the struggles of inequality and injustice, because he’s lived through them. As a child, Reggie’s family and four other families all lived under one roof. His mother worked around the clock just to put a roof over her children’s head and food on the table. But sometimes that wasn’t enough.
From an early age, Reggie was intimately confronted with issues of justice and equality firsthand as his uncle was an early pioneer in the civil rights movement. Jefferson Thomas, was one of the “Little Rock Nine” high school students who were some of the first to integrate American public schools.
These experiences helped Reggie understand from an early age the critical need for social, economic and racial justice. That’s why he has dedicated his career to uplifting working families and communities of color.
Labor Leader
Reggie first got involved in labor organizing after he successfully fought an unjust firing from a new boss while working at a call center. He then became a shop steward with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) to fight for the rights of himself and his colleagues.
Eventually, Reggie rose up the ranks to serve as Vice President of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721 Los Angeles Professional Managers Association. During his time as a labor leader, he helped secure better wages for working people. He also fought for healthcare for all, equal pay, retirement benefits and workers’ rights.
Fighting for Us
During his time in the State Legislature, Reggie has championed forward-thinking policies that put working families first.
During the coronavirus crisis, Reggie worked tirelessly for our community. When the pandemic first hit, Reggie quickly pushed to secure vital Personal Protective Equipment for first responders and other workers on the frontlines of the virus while distributing critical resources to struggling working families. He’s also fought to provide financial support to families impacted by the virus to make sure they keep a roof over their head and food on the table.
Reggie is the founder and Chair of the California Progressive Caucus and currently serves as the Chair of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. He also currently serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Urban Planning and Land Use in Underserved Communities and Co-Chair of the Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color. He previously served as Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, Secretary of the California Democratic Party, President of the New Frontier Democratic Club (NFDC), Chair of the Baldwin Hills Conservancy, Chair of the Los Angeles County Small Business Commission, and President of the Los Angeles Association of Black Personnel (LAABP).
Reggie earned a scholarship to attend the University of California, where he received his B.S. in Public Administration. He also later completed the prestigious Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government's Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
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