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About Our Founder —
Honorable Sandré R. Swanson



Sandré R. Swanson served three successful terms as a Member of the California State Assembly. He was the Chair of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee and was an advocate for growing the middle class with sustainable jobs. Mr. Swanson also served on the Assembly Budget Committee, Sub–committee on Education Finance, which approves the state budget support for Community Colleges, State Universities and the UC system. Mr. Swanson was known as a vocal supporter of funding for Community Colleges. He also served on the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce and was the Speaker’s Appointee to the State Workforce Investment Board.


Mr. Swanson is passionate about the plight of troubled and at–risk youth. As Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color, his committee’s work is widely used by the State today in its strategies for assisting young people. As a result of this work, in 2014 Mr. Swanson was invited to the White House by President Barack Obama and was requested to participate in the President’s "My Brother’s Keeper’ initiatives.


During his tenure in the Assembly, Mr. Swanson passed landmark legislation dealing with the atrocities of human trafficking – which he calls "modern day slavery." His legislative work assisted with the development of programs for job training, housing and counseling for the victims of human trafficking – some as young as 12 years old. Several of his laws are prominently referenced on the California Attorney General’s web site. District Attorney offices are using these laws across our State to successfully prosecute human trafficking criminals in California today.


Following his work in the legislature, Mr. Swanson served as Deputy Mayor for the city of Oakland, California. He worked successfully on growing the City’s economy by developing small businesses. He also supported jobs strategies for the development of more sustainable jobs for Oakland’s youth.


Before his election to the California State Assembly, Mr. Swanson served five years as Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Before that, he worked for 25 years as the District Director and Senior Policy Advisor for Congressman Ronald V. Dellums. He also served as Chair of the Alameda County Employee’s Retirement Association which manages the County of Alameda’s seven billion dollar retirement fund. Mr. Swanson was also Chair of the Oakland Civil Service Commission, and Chair of the Oakland Re–Use and Redevelopment Authority.


Mr. Swanson served as the Student Body President of Laney Community College and was the College’s graduation commencement speaker. He graduated from Laney with an Associate Arts Degree with emphasis in psychology. Mr. Swanson also received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University.


Mr. Swanson is a native of Oakland CA. and is married to his wife Anita J. Swanson. He and his wife founded the Sandré R. Swanson Youth Foundation for inner–city at–risk youth. Together they have four children and five grandchildren.