Pecolia, an Oakland resident, entrepreneur and artist and a passionate organizer with over 30 years of organizing and advocacy experience. She brings a deep understanding of diverse issues and global affairs. Pecolia has served in various roles over their organizing career including nonprofit executive director, school district taskforce chair and chair of a city government commission. In 2024, Pecolia became the Executive Director of Oakland Rising, and is leading the collaborative of racial, economic and environmental organizations to use the civic process to build political power for and with BIPOC, working-class, immigrant, and formerly incarcerated community members to bring about systemic change. For over 17 years, Oakland Rising has advanced Oakland’s most important policies and ballot measures including the minimum wage increases, progressive business tax and most recently campaign finance reform. Pecolia’s transformative leadership will lead the collaborative to explore innovative and sustainable solutions that advance equitable democracy and economic recovery for working class, immigrant and formerly incarcerated residents in Oakland, California.
2025 Inside Ideas
Moderator – Art as Radical Practice: Black Women’s Creative Expression as Social Change
