Neva Walker

Neva Walker became executive director at Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth in 2011.

Neva is a long-time youth worker, community organizer and political leader from Minneapolis who recently relocated to the Bay Area. She was born into an activist family; her mother founded and ran community programs at the Sabathani Community Center, located right across the street from the family’s home. Neva herself now has decades of experience working with low income youth and families of color around economic and racial justice issues. She has organized intensively around community demands for affordable housing and opportunities for youth. At age 29, Neva was the first African American woman elected to the Minnesota Legislature in the state's history. She ran a precedent-setting grassroots election campaign that involved young people of color at every level of leadership. She served 8 years as a legislator before stepping down to return to her organizing roots. She's a former Board member of the Progressive States Network. Since coming to the Bay, Neva spent time supporting the Black Organizing Project at the Center for Third World Organizing, and has been organizing workers in the labor movement.^[1]

Ear to the Ground Project

Ear to the Ground Project;

We would like to express our deep respect and appreciation for everyone who took the time to talk with us, and the organizations that generously hosted us during our travels. Interviews were confidential, but the following people have agreed to have their names listed for this publication:

Most of those listed were connected to Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

Neva Walker was among those on the list. ^[2]

Block party comrades

Chelsea Boilard June 11, 2016 ·

With Lily Wong, Jessica Inson, Belinda Bellinger, Neva Walker, Samantha Liapes and Mari Posa.

Birthday comrades

Chelsea Boilard May 12, 2016 ·

With Rosario Cervantes, Don Misumi, Neva Walker, Jane Martin and Mei-ying Williams.

Leftist crew

Chelsea Boilard January 2, 2016 ·

With Neva Walker, Allison Allbee, Kimberly Dorthea, Stephanie Martina, Malkia Cyril, Rama Ali Kased, Emily Ja-ming Lee, Jade Rivera, Sophia Simon-Ortiz, Rae Solunayeli, Lily Wong and Samantha Liapes.

Ferguson report back HangOut

Resistance in Ferguson, led primarily by young Black people, has continued for more than two months, with direct action, organizing, base-building and other forms of resistance. To date, hundreds have been arrested seeking justice—organizers want to make sure there is not only not one more Mike Brown, but also not one more Darren Wilson.

LeftRoots sent a delegation to St. Louis to lend our support to the leaders from organizations like Millennial Activists United, Hands Up United, Organization for Black Struggle, and Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment. We know that to turn this from a moment into a movement, we will need to connect our seemingly isolated fights around gentrification, workers rights, police violence, education justice and more into a strong, resilient and connected movement that can transform our communities, our country and our world.

The program will include reflections from Alicia Garza, Neva Walker, Christine Cordero, Lucia Lin and Steve Williams as well as others who participated in the Weekend of Resistance.^[3]

Revolutionary Strategies to Beat the Rising Right Wing

Revolutionary Strategies to Beat the Rising Right Wing, was a nationwide conference call organized by Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Sunday October 30, 2016.

What's the nature of this right-wing threat? What has this election cycle changed about the political terrain we're fighting on? How do we need to prepare for whats coming after the election? Hear about these crucial questions from our panel of top political strategists, including Nelini Stamp, Bill Fletcher, Jr., Linda Burnham, and Sendolo Diaminah.

Those invited, on Facebook included Neva Walker.^[4]

Coleman board members

Chelsea Boilard June 16, 2015 ·

Coleman Advocates board members voting in a "dot-ocracy" during our education justice strategy session... — with Neva Walker, Rosario Cervantes, Maria Luz L. Torre, Curtis Chan and Greg Tanaka.