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Alicia Garza is an acclaimed activist, writer, and organizer, widely recognized as a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, who now focuses on building Black political power and women's advocacy.
Alicia Garza is one of the co-creators of #BlackLivesMatter, which has become one of the most significant movements advocating for racial justice.
Alicia founded the Black Futures Lab to make Black communities powerful in politics.
Alicia Garza co-founded Supermajority, an organization dedicated to harnessing the power of the women’s voting bloc.
Alicia Garza has had multiple roles throughout her career as an activist. In 2013, she became the special projects director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, where she advocated for the respect, recognition, and labor rights of nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers in the United States.
Alicia Garza and her co-organizers founded the Black Futures Lab and the Black to the Future Action Fund to build Black political power.
Alicia Garza was born in Oakland, California, on January 4, 1981. Her upbringing, particularly her mother’s influence, instilled in her a commitment to ensure dignified lives for all, setting the stage for her career as an activist. Garza’s early activism began at age 12, promoting sex education in schools. While attending the University of California, San Diego, she continued her advocacy by working at the student health center and supporting higher pay for university janitors. In 2002, she helped organize the first Women of Color Conference at UCSD, graduating the same year with a degree in anthropology and sociology. After returning to the Bay Area in 2003, Garza engaged in political education at the School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL), followed by work with Just Cause Oakland, where she focused on economic security for people of color. She then joined People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO) in a campaign against a proposed Walmart, though the store opened in 2005. Later, with People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER), she advocated for public housing and transit, and opposed gentrification in Bayview–Hunters Point.
A pivotal moment in Garza’s career occurred in 2013, when she penned a Facebook post containing the phrase “Black lives matter” following George Zimmerman’s acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin. This post, shared by Patrisse Cullors with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, catalyzed the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement, which she co-founded with Cullors and Opal Tometi. The movement rapidly gained global traction, fueled by protests against police brutality and racial disparities. Garza also served as the special projects director at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, advocating for the rights of nannies, house cleaners, and home care workers. Expanding her influence in political advocacy, Garza co-founded the Black Futures Lab and the Black to the Future Action Fund to enhance Black political power. She also co-founded Supermajority, an organization dedicated to mobilizing women voters. In 2020, Garza published her book, “The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart,” an essential guide reflecting her journey and insights on movement building. She is currently transitioning to a role as senior vice president of Movement, Infrastructure, and Explorations at the JPB Foundation, continuing her work toward systemic change and justice.
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