At first glance, Kendrick Jones is your everyday doctoral student from Los Angeles. But at the core, the young yet vibrant student leader has a deep fire ablaze in his heart to fight against injustice and racism that plagues California and the whole nation.
According to studies, California’s Black population is one of the lowest in the United States, with only 5.7 percent of Californians being African American. But despite being a minority, most arrests made on Californian records are amongst black people. Poverty rates are also higher amongst Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans, averaging around twenty-four percent or higher than the ten percent rate of White Americans.
As racism continues in the nation, leaders continue to raise their voices and take action. In recent times, there has also been a rise in active leadership amongst young adults. One such leader is Kendrick Jones, an alumnus of California State University, Dominguez Hills and a proud community activist and public servant in California. The latter uses his voice and platform to fight against injustice and racism in Los Angeles, California, and beyond.
Kendrick Jones is only twenty-three years old, but he is leaving a legacy in his community even at a young age. He is a District Representative in the California State Senate, where he takes charge in scheduling and briefing the Senator’s district meetings and acts as a representative of the office during numerous district-related events and conferences. As a public servant, he speaks in various events and programs and gives input on reports and plans that the office spearheads. Kendrick also serves as the Education Deputy for the district.
The servant leader’s journey in government and politics started while he was in college. He served as the Vice President for student affairs at California State University- Dominguez Hills while pursuing his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Africana Studies. Kendrick is also the recipient of many honors and awards, including the Horace Mann and Zora Neale Hurston Africana Achievement Award and was the class speaker during the 2017 Douglas Bethune Africana Graduation Celebration at the university.
Jones holds a Masters of Arts in Education and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy at Pepperdine University. Before pursuing advanced studies, Kendrick also worked as a Program Manager for South Los Angeles YouthBuild Program, a non-profit geared towards opportunity-building and intervention programs for underprivileged and troubled youth. “I wanted to bring a change to my community, but could not help but feel that I was alone in that mission.” After leaving the position in 2019, Jones furthered his love for community engagement and utilized his networks to ultimately become a leading media consultant for a congressional candidate. One of Kendrick Jones’ greatest passions at work is fighting against systemic racism and acts of systemic brutality towards minority communities. He works tirelessly to represent African Americans in government and community programs that he feels can help bring positive change to communities similar to that of his own upbringing. As he continues to climb the social ladder in his pursuit of a advanced career in politics, Kendrick hopes to build his platform for social reform in the state of California, actively using his voice and skills to create a better society for many minority members who fall prey to racism and injustice regularly. “I know how it feels to be overlooked and I know how it feels to be used as an asset to an organization, rather than have my voice truly appreciated for what it can contribute. I want to create a world of second-chances no matter your background. I want to have people’s voices truly be heard.”
As young as he is, Kendrick has a bright future ahead of him. He looks forward to completing his doctorate and using it to influence policy in more direct leadership roles positively. Check out Kendrick Jones’ LinkedIn account to learn more about his work and advocacies.
