Meet Ali
I am a proud and committed Richmond Public School (RPS) parent and advocate. I’m a father and husband who has called Richmond home for over 20 years. I met my wife in Richmond, our sons were born in Richmond, and both started as kindergarteners in RPS and are still RPS students.
Experience
I’ve served the Richmond community throughout my career. Working in government and for nonprofits, I have spent more than 15 years advocating for families and children in areas including:
Housing & community development
Children’s health care
Family violence prevention
Mental health and developmental services
Maternal & infant health
These experiences shaped my passion for fostering learning environments that promote respect, belonging and compassionate accountability.
When I worked at Housing Opportunities Made Equal (H.O.M.E.), I fought against housing and lending discrimination. I saw how these practices strip critical resources and opportunities from neighborhoods, impact our schools, and make it harder for many RPS families to access basic services. By advocating for equitable policies and resources, we can create an environment that ensures all children have the opportunity to succeed.
When I worked at Families Forward Virginia (FFV), I learned that a child’s behavior is always a form of communication. Too often, we punish children for behavior that reflects their need for more support. I advocated for a two-generation approach to breaking these cycles of poverty and trauma. I believe our public schools must take a similar approach to ensure teachers and staff are more trauma-informed.
Leadership
As a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and the Virginia Executive Institute, I’ve channeled my passion and expertise by serving on these community boards:
Mental Health America of Virginia
Community Building Committee of the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg
Virginia Board of Long Term Care Administrators
Virginia Autism Council
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Battery Park Civic Association
Barack Obama Elementary Parent Teacher Organization
