Kimberly Okeke

• The Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance is a non-profit organization uniting organizers from diverse faith backgrounds to engage in congregational, grassroots, and legislative organizing efforts. In 2024, I was privileged to serve on their research team focusing on the remediation of the abandoned Materials Innovation Recycling Authority Trash to Energy Plant in Hartford, vacant since 2022.
• Through GHIAA I met with members of MIRA, connected with the Hartford Mayor and listened to his thoughts and plans on the remediation of the plant.
• Hosted educational workshops to pursue advocacy for this issue.

• This is a catholic faith-based nonprofit organization that advocates for systemic change and educates individuals about social justice issues that affects poor and marginalized communities.
• I created advocacy toolkits for lay people, made outreach calls to catholic and non-catholic organizations, conducted extensive research on social justice issues, and more.
• I facilitated and documented 1 to 1 meetings with over 100 community activists, organizers, pastoral leaders, politicians, and Greater Hartford residents.
• I organized over 15 house meetings with Greater Hartford residents.
• I hosted educational and informational workshops for the public on legislative issues that CCFJ stands for.
• I organized phone banks.
• I participated in lobbying at the legislative level.
• I participated in public canvassing.
• I facilitated and hosted the first CCFJ Racial Justice Training (2024.)
• I participated in social justice organizing in both the congregational and community level.
  

• I played a pivotal role in advancing the Paid Sick Leave Bill in Connecticut.
• Our coalition ensured access to a minimum of 40 hours of paid sick time for all employees (prior to the new bill, only employers with 50 or more employees in specific retail and service sectors provided paid sick leave annually.)
• I spoke alongside the coalition and Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on two occasions before the press in support of paid sick leave bill.
• I hosted various educational workshops within the Collaborative Center for Justice network in support of paid sick leave bill.
• I participated in lobbying at the State Capital in support of paid sick leave bill.
  
  

• I worked with lawyers Steven Lance and Candace Batiste from the Legal Defense Fund on the Connecticut Voting Rights Act (CTVRA).
• I assisted in planning and executing informational sessions and outreach events for the CTVRA.
• I lobbied and testified in support of the CTVRA at the Hartford Legislative Office Building.

• I engaged with various attorneys and lawyers to discuss their career trajectories and credentials.
• This experience provided valuable insights into the legal profession, including aspects of professionalism, different areas of law, and diverse career pathways available to law graduates.

• I gained valuable exposure to the diverse functions and leadership roles within a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing community violence among young adults through mentorship and social-emotional development.
• I undertook various projects, including developing a race and ethnicity professional development initiative during Black History Month. This project aimed to underscore the importance of data and foster a culturally aware work environment.
• I conducted research on the prevalence of community violence in Hartford today, exploring relevant theories driving its occurrence.
  
  

• I engaged directly with undergraduate and graduate students to support them in various stages of their writing assignments.
• I contributed to several projects within the Writing Center, such as designing posters and flyers to promote its services, participating in open house events, and assisting in planning and organizing the First Year Writing Experience Program for incoming freshmen and transfer students.
• I collaborated with the Writing Center to facilitate career development workshops for undergraduate students at UCONN.
• I mentored and trained new writing tutors.

• I peer mentored freshmen and sophomore students throughout the AACC's PASS class (This is a transition course for underclassmen that provides mentorship, resources, and career advice for UCONN's Black and Brown demographic of students.)
• I met biweekly with a cohort of undergraduate students where I helped these students navigate mental, social, and educational resources that UCONN has to offer.

Independent Study (Spring 2020)

• I focused primarily on the influence of cool pose culture on young Black males.
• Cool Pose Culture: Concept introduced by Richard Majors and Janet Mancini Billson in "The Dilemmas of Black Manhood in America" (1993).
• This theory how young African-American males may adopt indifference and toughness as a response to historical racial violence and degradation.
• Thesis Exploration:
  - I investigated how the expression of cool pose affects involvement in Black-on-Black crime.
  - I examined the impact on violence against Black LGBTQ individuals within youth communities.

• Assisted teachers with administrative and technical support during lessons
• Updated student records
• Created and executed classroom lesson plans
• Conducted student intakes.

• I investigated the mental health impacts of Hurricane Katrina on Puerto Rico.
• I performed literature searches and organized educational materials utilized in Professor Catherine Medina's social work graduate courses.
• I handled standard administrative tasks.