Activist. Democracy and governance expert. Father. Friend. Husband. Organizer. Neighbor. Publicly Financed Candidate for County Council. For fifteen years Imara has been committed to improving the lives of people around the world, now he wants your support to do the same here in Prince George’s.
“Decades ago, my parents brought me to my first protest. An anti-apartheid rally they were participating in when I was still a child. That’s alot to live up to.”
Activism
& Organizing
I’ve been an organizer for as long as I can remember, long before I had any titles, long before I knew there was anything unusual about devoting oneself to organizing, and long before anyone was paying attention. As a young person, my parents introduced me to the NAACP, where I developed into a young leader, mentoring the next generation of organizers. I grew up believing fiercely in the power of people coming together to make change.
In the early 2000s, I organized with friends around marriage equality (back when we still called it that) when the fight was uphill and genuinely equal rights felt like a distant dream. Since then, I haven’t stopped fighting for justice, for dignity, and for every person’s right to live a full and free life.
Here in the county, that fight continues. I’ve stood alongside neighbors and allies in support of working people, renters, public school parents, the undocumented, victims of police brutality, and all those whose voices are too often pushed aside. My organizing has always been rooted in the same truth: when we act collectively, we build something stronger than any one of us alone.
Democracy
& Governance
My professional life has been guided by the same core conviction that grounds my organizing, the principle that democracy is something we build, protect, and practice every day. I’ve spent more than a decade working on democracy and governance, supporting civil society, promoting human rights, and strengthening public institutions in some of the most challenging political environments in the world. From supporting grass-roots political campaigns to community-led justice initiatives to national-level policy reform, I’ve helped design and lead programs that bring transparency, accountability, and civic power to the forefront.
At home and abroad, I’ve seen how fragile democracy can be, and how powerful it becomes when everyday people claim it as their own. Whether working alongside grassroots movements or advising international institutions, I’ve remained committed to the belief that real democracy isn’t just about elections, it’s about voice, dignity, and the right to shape the future.