Alicia Stevens

Alicia Garza is an American civil rights activist and writer, widely recognized for her role in co-founding the Black Lives Matter movement. Born in Oakland, California, she developed an early interest in activism, advocating for issues like school sex education at age 12. Her academic pursuits in anthropology and sociology at UC San Diego further fueled her commitment to social justice, where she organized events and supported student initiatives.

Garza's career has been dedicated to community organizing and systemic change. She has worked with organizations such as the School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL), People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO), and People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER), focusing on economic, environmental, and racial justice. She also contributed to the National Domestic Workers Alliance, establishing a program for Black domestic workers. Her influential work includes co-founding Black Lives Matter, inspired by her personal reflections and the broader context of racial injustice in the United States. Garza's activism extends to public speaking, writing, and co-founding initiatives like Supermajority, aimed at empowering women politically.

Born in Oakland, California, Alicia Garza's commitment to activism began at a young age. By the age of 12, she was already promoting school sex education. Her college years at the University of California, San Diego, were marked by continued engagement in social justice issues, including work at the student health center and advocating for fair wages for university staff. In her final year, she played a role in organizing the first Women of Color Conference at UCSD. She graduated in 2002 with a degree in anthropology and sociology, laying a foundation for her future work in understanding societal structures and advocating for change.

Following her graduation, Garza returned to the Bay Area and immersed herself in community organizing. She participated in training programs focused on political education for young people of color and worked with organizations like Just Cause Oakland. Her efforts with People United for a Better Life in Oakland (PUEBLO) involved community resistance against a proposed Walmart development. Later, with People Organized to Win Employment Rights (POWER), she championed economic, environmental, racial, and gender justice, advocating for public housing and transit accessibility, and opposing controversial development projects. These experiences shaped her approach to grassroots organizing and systemic advocacy.

Alicia Garza is widely known as a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. The genesis of the movement's hashtag stemmed from a Facebook post by Garza in 2013, expressing her profound concern over racial injustice following the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Her words, "Our lives matter," resonated deeply and were amplified by her collaborators. The movement gained significant momentum in response to police brutality and systemic racial disparities. Garza has also explored her experiences and insights through her podcast, "Lady Don’t Take No," and her book, "The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart," which offers lessons on activism and the human aspects of social justice work.

Garza's influence extends beyond Black Lives Matter. She has served on the boards of various organizations, including Forward Together's Oakland branch and the Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity. Her work with the National Domestic Workers Alliance has focused on empowering Black domestic workers. Furthermore, she co-established Supermajority, an organization dedicated to building political power for women across America. Her advocacy has been recognized through numerous accolades and invitations to speak at significant national and international forums, including the United Nations.

“I continue to be surprised at how little Black lives matter... Our lives matter.”

“My experience with BLM toughened my skin and softened my heart...it taught me how to recommit to work that broke my heart every day”

“I wanted people to see under the hood and under the curtains of what goes on in this work.. I’ve had the experience of feeling like I was not cut out for this work, and I wanted to humanize the movement”