Session Speaker: In recognition of Black History Month, our speaker will be California State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan
Session Overview: Assemblymember Bryan will share how he came to be a leader in Los Angeles and at the state level in the Black community and beyond. He will discuss how he decided to run for elective office including the key issues he hoped to address and his progress in doing so. Mr. Bryan will also share suggestions on how to be an effective community organizer and leader and how to leverage local experiences to affect and advance change at broader levels. Isaac will also share his experiences in co-founding the Legislative Disability Caucus. Finally, he will address how concerned citizens and allies can take action to create and sustain inclusive communities.
About the Speaker: In 2024, Assemblymember Bryan was elected Vice Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus after serving as the Treasurer for two years prior.
In addition, he co-founded the Disability Caucus in the CA. State Legislature.
Assemblymember Bryan is a community organizer, policy expert, and a published scholar. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Isaac led a ballot measure that brought millions of dollars a year to address racial injustice and strengthen communities in Los Angeles. He also served as the founding Director of the UCLA Black Policy Project – a think tank dedicated to advancing racial equity through rigorous policy analysis. Additionally, while working for the City of Los Angeles, Isaac authored the City’s first holistic report on the needs of formerly incarcerated Angelenos. For years, his academic and legislative work has been a powerful driver at the intersection of environmental, economic, education, racial, and housing justice.
In the Assembly, Isaac serves as Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources as well as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion. In addition, he serves on a number of other committees.
Isaac’s legislative accomplishments have included phasing out the Inglewood Oil Field and establishing a community repair fund (AB 2716), ending prison gerrymandering (AB 1848), ending punishing fees for parents with children in foster care (AB 1686), ensuring access to menstrual products for incarcerated Californians (AB 1810), and protecting survivor benefits owed to foster youth (AB 2906).