Candidate for
Council Member; City of Richmond; 4 Year Term

I am an African American and Latina immigrant. I was born in Panama City, Panama in 1963, where I grew-up in a bilingual, multicultural family and country. My parents moved to the U.S.in 1972 and I went through the challenging process of immigration and cultural adjustment. At home, my parents taught me the critical values of respect for self and others, along with hard work and integrity. As a result of my multicultural experience, I have learned to respect and value differences and similarities. This allows me to easily and comfortably bridge many barriers. I attended Florida A&M University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida, on a full basketball scholarship, and graduated with honors in 1988 with a BA degree in Psychology. I later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix. I moved to the Bay Area in 1989 and have worked as a counselor, youth educator, team builder and strategist, client advocate, crime prevention specialist, housing case manager for the homeless, and mental health specialist for 18 years. My spouse and I have lived in Richmond since 2005 and have an adult son. As a Richmond resident, I have been both the victim of crime and an advocate of solutions that prevent it. I have always supported community efforts to stop crime. I strongly support Operation Ceasefire and our police department's community policing initiative, both of which have contributed to a dramatic reduction in crime in Richmond. Since I have been on the City Council I sponsored two initiatives designed to reduce crime in Richmond. The Municipal ID/Bank Card program which provides all residents of the city, regardless of citizen status, an ID, is known to reduce crime by making it easier for all residents to report crimes. The Bank Card feature reduces crime as citizens who have banking privileges are less vulnerable to theft of large amounts of money that they previously had to carry or keep at home. I sponsored a "Ban the Box" resolution which removes the question regarding previous conviction of a felony from the city's initial job application and from job applications of businesses that contract with the city. This measure levels the playing field for our residents returning from incarceration, increasing the likelihood that they will find employment and not return to illegal activities.

I value the diversity of Richmond. As a Black Latin American I feel privileged to belong to the Concilio Latino and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). I have collaborated with West Contra Costa County School District members, and community health providers to share information on best practices to meet the need of the Latino community members. I worked with the Latina Center and others in organizing the Children's March Against Violence. I oppose anti-immigrant raids and drivers license check points. I support a comprehensive and just immigration reform with path to legalization for all immigrants. I strongly affirm and promote the historical contributions of African Americans to Richmond and our nation (Council Honors Blacks who Fought at Harper's Ferry and Letter from Don Campbell Superintendent, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park ). I have compiled in a booklet for distribution, the history of the Gary family of Richmond (a copy can be downloaded at: http://www.jovankabeckles.net/GARYSTORY.pdf ), who in 1952 fought for civil rights and housing integration in Richmond with the support of progressives, unions, churches and Black organizations. The Gary's story was honored by Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin by issuing a proclamation in their honor during Black History Month 2008. I advocate for further equity in the distribution of resources and for an expanded African-American community presence in our city. I am a proud member of Public Employees Local #1. I believe in strong, independent, and pro-active unions that assert and protect member rights and benefits. I was selected by my colleagues to be the strike captain during the last strike in which we workers fought management for fair compensation. I worked hand-in-hand with the shop steward organizing and coordinating labor dialogs with peers as well as management. As a citizen of the United States, I see our nation in a very deep moral and economic crisis. We need to continue the process of rethinking and redefining ourselves as a nation and our participation in the world. As a Richmond voter and a registered Democrat, I know that there are needs in our city that cannot be postponed. We need to take immediate action to stop the bloodshed, and to preserve the viability of a Richmond that is healthy, fair, diverse, inclusive, peaceful, green, abundant jobs and prosperous. No one will do it for us, we must do it ourselves We need a City Council that supports the People's priorities.