Alonzo Washington
Greenbelt,MD
Summary
Executive management professional with 10+ years experience in legislative & government relations, organization strategic planning,
diversity equity & inclusion leadership, political strategy, coalition building, training & empowering advocates, & budget development.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
State Senator
Maryland General Assembly
01.2023 - Current
- Hired, trained, and supervised staff to develop legislation, monitor 1,200 pieces of legislation, and interact with government officials.
- Established new policies and procedures to maximize legislative staff capacity and strengths complete our progressive agenda to protect vulnerable women and children.
- Represented constituents and spoke to citizens about problems, concerns or suggestions.
- Frequently met with staffers to discuss daily activities and discuss legislation and constituent issues.
- Drafted legislation and amendments, wrote government policies and established budgets.
State Delegate
Maryland State Delegate, Maryland General Assembly
12.2012 - 01.2023
- Served for 8 years on the Joint Committee on Federal Relations that led to additional funding for the state and cultivating relationships with Federal Administrators and Congress
- Sponsored over 70 pieces of legislation focused on economic mobility, college affordability, anti-poverty, affordable housing, healthcare, police accountability, and education reform
- Successfully lobbied for over $10 billion in new programs to incentivize affordable housing, improve health disparities, and economic activity in underserved communities
- Worked with colleagues across different committees, ideologies, regions, and political parties to develop policy priorities and deliver meaningful legislative victories for Maryland residents.
- Kept up with news on daily basis to stay informed about local, regional, national and international events.
- Drafted legislation and amendments, wrote government policies and established budgets.
Chief of Racial Equity & Inclusion
CASA, Inc.
01.2021 - 11.2022
- Reported to CASA Chiefs, Executives, and key stakeholders on creative approaches to developing and implementing evidence-based diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and quantitatively measure their electiveness
- Identified equity gaps across the organization and developed tools and resources to help increase cultural competence, equity and opportunity throughout the organization
- Conducted surveys, focus groups, interviews and document reviews to understand workplace DEI perceptions and actual practice including human resources/hiring and retention practices; Intently engage with employees to create effective feedback around DEI efforts.
- Researched and recommended creative strategies to foster the organization's overall objectives.
- Developed and facilitated training programs for managers, senior leadership, and staff to raise awareness.
Executive Director
CASA in Action & CASA
09.2020 - 11.2022
- Served simultaneously as Executive Director and Chief of Racial Equity & Inclusion of grassroots social movement non-profit organization providing programming, advocacy, and essential services focused on children, women, and families
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to strategically affect operational direction.
- Successfully leveraged and managed external relationships to increase CASA in Action’s annual budget and staff capacity by 300%
- Annually raised, allocated and managed a $5-$6 million annual budget to achieve social economic victories for working families & youth
- Supervised a team of 15 highly talented executives in public policy, field operations, communications, finance, data & compliance, and fundraising in developing grassroots issues and political campaigns
- Successfully restructured organization’s infrastructure to ensure that employees, budgets, and work plans are realigned to increase programmatic outcomes for each department
- Collaborated with National executives, local staff, and other senior staff to help outline and finalize overall policy agenda and national programs for CASA, Inc
- Indirectly supervised and oversaw 200+ permanent and temporary employees to mobilize thousands of low-income and low-propensity black and brown people to vote in local, state and federal elections in four states
- Coached and mentored staff from Directors to canvassers to maximize their professional talents and individual impact
- Exercised appropriate cost control to meet budget restrictions and maximize profitability.
- Fostered work culture of collaboration and inclusion to increase morale and reduce turnover.
Federal Government Relations, CASA, Inc
09.2020 - 08.2022
- Successfully led, designed, implemented and supervised full-time research staff to conduct +50 direct lobbying campaigns & strategies to advance the mission of the organization and its clients at the state and federal levels of government
- Oversaw development of federal legislation, amendments, fact sheets, position statements, and research reports on legislation and regulations priorities
- Hired, trained, and coached a team of 15 federal multi-issue area experts to develop, monitor, and issue timely reports on legislative and regulatory issues, and how to galvanize public support
- Worked directly with the Biden Administration to change regulations and issue executive orders on immigration, education, and policing
- Provided strong and clear communication through established written weekly legislative reports to organizational leadership, in addition to verbal reports and discussions at regular meetings
- Served as a spokesperson to media outlets, coalitions, and funders for CASA and CASA in Action regarding our legislative and administrative advocacy
- Authored and published the organization's first Federal Policy Agenda that included multiple priority issues including business regulations, housing, immigration, education, etc
- Managed relationships with Congressional Representatives including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Leader Steny Hoyer, Leader Schumer,
- Senator Warnock, Senator Kane, and other Representatives along with their staff
- Served as lead organization representative on 5 external national coalitions to impact change and build the organization’s national profile
Director of Policy and Economic
CASA, Inc
04.2016 - 08.2020
- Positioned the organization to be a regional policy leader in affordable housing, economic and workforce development
- Authored and published two housing reports focused on economics, housing quality and affordability
- Increased CASA's annual budget by 10% within the first year through program development and grant writing
- Developed effective legislative campaign strategies that successfully lead to +25 new federal, state and local legislative initiatives
- Fundraised managed over $5 million in community development and research grants.
Economic Development Project Manager
Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority
04.2013 - 09.2016
- Managed multiple redevelopment projects in the predevelopment and development stage, and evaluated the feasibility of potential development opportunities along with the Executive Director
- Secured over $3,300,000 in federal funding through successful grant writing proposals to support housing programs for low-income and working class families
- Reviewed marketing studies with the Executive Director to determine market strength for potential development proposals, prepared and issued RFQ/RFP documents, and reviewed submissions from developers.
Chief of Staff & Legislative Director
Prince George’s County Council
09.2009 - 12.2012
- Managed multiple staff working to enact priority policies and deliver effective constituent services
- Oversaw $250+ million of redevelopment projects, bringing affordable housing and high paying jobs to the County.
Education
Public Policy Conflict Resolution Certification -
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Baltimore, MDBusiness & Public Policy Fellow
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Charlottesville, VAB.A. - Criminal Justice & Criminology
University of Maryland
Skills
- Advocacy
- Training
- Government relations
- Federal and state legislation
- Public policy development
- Coalition development
- Non-profit management
- Lobbying
- Team building
Timeline
State Senator
Maryland General Assembly
01.2023 - Current
Chief of Racial Equity & Inclusion
CASA, Inc.
01.2021 - 11.2022
Executive Director
CASA in Action & CASA
09.2020 - 11.2022
Federal Government Relations, CASA, Inc
09.2020 - 08.2022
Director of Policy and Economic
CASA, Inc
04.2016 - 08.2020
Economic Development Project Manager
Prince George’s County Redevelopment Authority
04.2013 - 09.2016
State Delegate
Maryland State Delegate, Maryland General Assembly
12.2012 - 01.2023
Chief of Staff & Legislative Director
Prince George’s County Council
09.2009 - 12.2012
Public Policy Conflict Resolution Certification -
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
Business & Public Policy Fellow
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
B.A. - Criminal Justice & Criminology
University of Maryland
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