Southern Los Angeles community organizer Daphne Bradford is an official presidential candidate for 2020.
Bradford grew up throughout South Los Angeles. She lived in Compton, Inglewood, and graduated from California State University Long Beach where she studied finance. Her first career was in real estate and banking which landed her working on Wall Street. However, she ended up back here, in Los Angeles, with her career taking a turn into broadcast journalism, where she worked at Fox and Sony studios, along with radio stations, including 102.3 KJLH. Another turn happened after Bradford interviewed Rosa Parks in one of her last radio interviews. That interview changed Bradford’s outlook on her purpose, and she realized that she wanted to do more and encourage future generations.
“I’ve done a little bit of everything,” said Bradford. “From Wall Street, to entertainment, to education.”
Her first education initiative was bringing a broadcast program to Locke High School that gave students insight into radio, music and video production. This turned into Bradford creating her non-profit organization, Mother of Many (M.O.M.), which encourages K-12 students in South L.A. to join careers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.) She has been recognized for her work as a 2007 Apple Distinguished Educator, a 2011 Microsoft Innovative Educator, and a 2012 Microsoft Innovative Trainer. In 2013, Bradford was also recognized by former President Obama as a White House Champion of Change.
Bradford’s work in education continued as she put together a group of students at Dorsey High School to participate with College Board’s AP Computer Science Principles course in 2016. The course gave Dorsey students the opportunity to learn computing skills on a college level and was supported by companies, including Google and Microsoft. It was also supported by L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson, Jr. and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
“A lot of the digital media and music programs are coded and there is such a need in South L.A.,” said Bradford. “There are so many STEAM jobs out there and not enough of us taking them. College Board had come out with a new Computer Science AP exam for African Americans, Latinos, and women but we weren’t in the mix, so I got Dorsey to participate.”
Along with STEAM, Bradford works on community outreach with the youth of Southern Los Angeles. One of her latest programs, Building Blue Bridges, works to build trust between law enforcement and youth. This program partners with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles School Police Department. She also organized the revitalization of the Crenshaw High School Garden in partnership with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. Most of Bradford’s initiatives have been grass roots and gained national attention. She is hoping for the same with her presidential run.
Bradford’s primary focuses as a 2020 Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party are healthcare and education. She is also focused on #MeToo and women’s rights as she has been sexually harassed in every industry that she has worked in. Thirdly, she wants to tackle issues of police violence. While Bradford supports immigration and the 2nd Amendment, she wants to reform both immigration and gun laws. Whether she wins or loses, Bradford’s goal of her presidential run is to inspire her students and young people of color to get politically involved and make their voice heard.
For more information about Bradford, visit www.daphnebradford2020.com.
