Al Williams- Founder & President
Al Williams is a true son of Detroit.
He grew up in the district on Fairfield and went to Gesu Catholic School and U of D Highschool and Academy. His parents, Alfred and Sondra Williams were educators who encouraged both their children to go to historically black colleges. Al graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. His sister Staci graduated from Bennett College in Greensboro, N.C.
After graduating with a degree in political science, Al embarked on a 20 year journey of political and community organizing in the African-American community. Mr. Williams founded Vote Smart Detroit. The organization is a voter registration and education program aimed at Detroit Public School students. Al Williams also co-founded and became chairman of the Midtown Democrats. Composed of politically active young leaders, the Midtown Democrats energized the Wayne State Campus, the Midtown Community and Democrats across Southeastern Michigan. Al has helped coordinate a massive student-powered efforts throughout the country, including organizing over 900 students in support of victims affected by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Williams was the first of 1100 applicants selected to participate in the 1st Obama Organizing Fellows Program. Fully investing himself in his work,Williams led the winning team as the campaign manager in the program.
Williams has worked for state legislators in Georga, New Jersey and Michigan. He has helped move policies impacting urban communities around insurance redlining, healthcare policies, public education, and the enviroment. Al Williams has worked as a legislative aide to the Wayne County Commission. While on the Commission, he was influential in advocating for the continued funding of the Michigan State Fair Grounds and to restore revenue sharing to Detroit.
Al fights for Detroit. When Michigan’s economic crisis deepened, Al Williams worked as a community organizer side by side with the community and many non-profit organizations to fight foreclosures throughout Detroit and the state. As a result then Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans suspended foreclosure sales, saving hundreds of Detroiters from losing their homes. Al went to work for the Detroit NAACP as a political organizer where he advocated on issues ranging from Green and Climate Equity, to Education, and Voting Rights. In 2012, Al Williams was the State-wide Campaign Manager for the successful “No on Proposal 1” campaign to end the dictatorship of Emergency Managers in Michigan. Al and his team of over 3000 volunteers won that Campaign in the streets, but of course we lost the fight in the legislature and we still have Emergency Managers, WE CAN DO BETTER! In 2013 Al Williams was hired by the Michigan Democratic Party as the Statewide Membership Director, where he successfully doubled membership in less than 2 years. Al Williams also served as a chief of Staff to the Democratic Chair of Appropriations in the State House.
Living his message of public service, Al continues to write policy and serve as a campaign consultant for highly qualified office-seekers throughout the country.
As your next state representative for the 3rd District, Al Williams will fight everyday to make life better in the district throughout the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan.
Tashawna Gill- Co-Founder
Vice PResident & Executive director
Tashawna was born in Detroit, MI. She attended
Detroit Public Schools from k-12. She went on to obtain 3 Associates degrees from Wayne County County College ( Associates in Science , Associate of Arts, and Associate of Pre-Engineering). Tashawna went on to receive a Bachelor's in Psychology and Political Science , Master In Education & Science from the University of Michigan.
Tashawna first got introduced to the world of politics in 2013. She worked alongside the Phenomenal Honorable Alma Stallworth on Mayor Mike Duggan's Mayoral campaign .This is where she learned the true art of organizing. In 2014 she helped to produce the youngest city councilman in the United States ( Councilman Jewell Jones-Inkster Mi). She later went on to help Councilman Jones become the youngest State legislature in the United States. In 2016 Tashawna joined the Hillary Clinton Campaign in Michigan. Tashawna became the number one organizer in the state, helping to flip seats from red to blue. In 2017 she felt it was necessary to focus her attention on the Detroit city clerk's race. Tashawna was an organizer and support system for The Garlin Gilchrist City Clerks Campaign. She brought precinct delegates and the grassroots community to the table. But her huge task was just to come. Tashawna in October of 2017, became a Regional Political & Field Director for The Gretchen Whitmer for Governor Campaign. Tashawna Gill is currently serving as The Political Director for Governors Whitmer's .
Tashawna entered the Michigan political landscape in 2013. In that time she has gone on to create many powerful organizations that help to change the scope of elections. Women for Michigan United, United Precinct Delegates, The Grassroots Caucus, The New Black Progressives, Take Back MI 2020 and The African American Crisis Coalition are just to name a few. C.U.P.C.A.K.E Princess is a non-profit that focuses on empowering young women around the nation. Tashawna is also the Executive Director of The African American Leadership Institute. All organizations aim to do one thing: Empower the people. Her belief is that everyone has a talent. She strongly believes that the job of a good leader is to find that talent and nurture it.
