NEW JERSEY – Imani Oakley, Esq. former Legislative Director of NJ Working Families, joins #EyesOnNJ to host her 21st episode of “Upfront Now!” today at 5:00PM.
Imani will touch upon
- Abolish The Ballot Line
- Interview with Kevin Bing, Candidate for Jersey City Councilman
Kevin Bing, Candidate for Jersey City Councilman
Kevin Bing is running for Jersey City Council in 2021. Kevin is focused on improving street safety, adding affordable housing, and improving the quality of life for the residents of Ward C.
A long-time advocate for a better Journal Square, Kevin is a founding trustee and was President of the Journal Square Community Association. Kevin is a former Bike JC board member and a long time advocate for safe streets and improved transportation options. Over the years he has organized his neighbors to push for safe streets projects on Bergen Ave, Summit Ave, Route 139, and beyond. He was a part of the successful campaign that brought Vision Zero to Jersey City and he has advocated for improved PATH service.
As an elected member of the local Democratic party, Kevin has experience representing constituents and getting quality of life improvements in his district. Kevin has worked to get out COVID resources, add a bench at a local bus stop, and organize a group to shovel plowed-in crosswalks. Winning his committee election off the line, Kevin has worked with progressive groups to push our local leadership to reform the party and increase transparency. Once on council Kevin plans to be an independent voice and make our city government accountable to the people – not just the powerful and well connected.
In his professional life, Kevin is a small business owner. His small manufacturing business has been continuously operated by the Bing family for over 70 years. Navigating a small business through the COVID crisis has been an incredible professional challenge. Kevin knows small businesses can have a big impact. He wants to bring his business leadership experience to help improve city services for small businesses, foster economic growth, and respond to the COVID crisis as a more resilient and equitable city.
Kevin is proud of the work he’s done as an organizer and advocate for his community. Once elected to council he will make sure every resident of Ward C is heard and continue to fight for the issues that will move our city forward.
Imani Oakley, Esq. – Host, Upfront Now!
Imani R. Oakley, Esq was the Legislative Director & Regional Organizer for New Jersey Working Families. Imani is also an alum of New Leaders Council-New Jersey and is currently fulfilling the role of NLC-NJ Institute Co-Chair where she is responsible for constructing and facilitating a six-month curriculum for New Jersey’s emerging leaders.
Recently, Imani was voted-in as the Political Director for the Young Democrats of America’s Woman’s Caucus. Imani also currently holds the position of Northern Vice Chair for the New Jersey Young Democrats and was previously the Executive Chair of the Essex County Young Democrats. Imani is the former Deputy Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Britnee N. Timberlake and has also served as a Constituent Advocate for Senator Cory A. Booker where her portfolio consisted of affordable housing, mortgages, taxes, student loans, consumer protection, pensions, and postal service issues. In 2018, Imani was honored to be the Keynote Speaker for the Montclair Branch NAACP’s 102nd Thurgood Marshall Freedom Fund Dinner and Awards Ceremony where she spoke about the theme “Face the Hate and VOTE” with an emphasis on protecting the voting process for the nation’s most vulnerable communities.
Imani has also been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform. In 2017, Imani was a panel speaker for the 2017 International Drug Policy Reform Conference where she spoke about her experience in effecting D.C.’s local marijuana legalization laws and what students can do to effect drug policy reform on their campus and in their communities. Furthering her endeavors to create positive change in drug policy reform, Imani was invited to participate in the 2016 Minority Cannabis Business Association’s Policy Summit where she helped draft model legislation for the legalization of marijuana in a manner that promotes access to the legal cannabis industry for marginalized communities.
As an unyielding advocate for the systemically powerless, in 2015, Imani was a legal observer during the anti-police brutality protests in Baltimore, Maryland, where she ensured that the First Amendment rights of protestors were not infringed upon. During this same year, Imani spent her summer working for the South African non-profit, Ndifuna Ukwazi, where she collected affidavits on property and sewage conditions from South African communities that suffered under Apartheid and are still experiencing Apartheid’s harsh effects, even in its aftermath.
Imani earned her Bachelor’s degree from Howard University, a Master of Arts degree from New York University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. While enrolled in law school, Imani was enrolled in the Legislative Legal Clinic and drafted policy reports for non-profit organizations focused on criminal justice reform. As the Captain of Oral Advocacy for the Goler Teal Butcher International Moot Court Team at Howard, Imani distinguished herself among national and international competitors as the 2016 Best Oralist at the Susan J. Ferrell Intercultural Human Rights Moot Court Competition. Through her passion for both policy and her community, Imani hopes to continue to be a servant of the people and a trailblazer for progress.
