​Akosua Ali is a nationally renowned champion for civil rights, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) specializing in the areas of political action, civic engagement, health advocacy, education, climate, environment, housing and criminal justice.​  Akosua Ali brings over 18 years of success delivering program management, financial management, performance management and Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) transformative leadership expertise across the Federal Government, non-profit and private sectors organizations.  Through listening to and working with diverse stakeholders and constituents, she develops platforms and strategies to generate awareness, to create opportunity, solve complex challenges, invent new ways of operating, optimize resources and empower individuals and groups to take action.   Akosua Ali has a record of delivering mission-driven results in organizational transformation while increasing operational efficiency in Racial Justice, Climate, Health, Economic Development, Housing, Environmental Justice, Clean Energy, Maternal Health, Reproductive Rights, Political Action, Legislative Advocacy and Civil Rights.  She achieves mission-objectives by spearheading innovative, transformative solutions advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. She consistently delivers successful outcomes during times of crisis and uncertainty within racially sensitive environments.  Akosua Ali serves as a trusted leader, advisor and analyst to fellow executives, management teams, Board members, organizational and community partners, and staff. She inspires identification of opportunities and development of innovative and mission-advancing solutions by collaborating with all key stakeholders. 

 

Akosua Ali is the President of the NAACP Washington, DC Branch and serves on the NAACP National Board of Directors.  Elected as President in 2010, Akosua Ali was one of the youngest Presidents of an NAACP Branch across the nation.  Today, with over 12 years of proven results and expertise leading transformative solutions to eliminate racial discrimination, she quickly illuminates vision through empowerment, social cohesion and leading high-performance teams focused on individual and organizational objectives.   As a nationally renowned champion for racial justice and equality, Akosua Ali’s leads change management, performance management and diversity equity & inclusive (DEI) processes to reimagine organizations for optimal mission success.   As President, she improved operational efficiency and mission success by recruiting and developing an executive leadership team of three Vice Presidents and 24 subject matter experts in racial equity, diversity, civil rights, climate change, environmental justice, public health and food justice. She leads the operations, communications, branding and strategic direction of the NAACP Executive Leadership Team’s implementation of racial equity, diversity and civil rights in health, education, economics, climate, environment and LGBTQIA+ areas focused on eliminating racial discrimination. Akosua Ali grew 2020 revenue 300% by leading a fundraising team in researching, prospecting, prioritizing, soliciting, and accountability reporting while stewarding mission-aligned donors in corporate relations, foundations/grants for a multifaceted development portfolio. She delivered a 75% reduction in overhead costs by enhancing customer service, performing vital infrastructure upgrades, and optimizing product enhancements and service delivery.  She stablishes strategic alliances and maintain key relationships across organizations, while directing project teams managing NAACP program areas, including Economic, Education, Environmental, Finance, Climate Justice, Criminal Justice, Health, Housing, LGTBQIA+, International Affairs, Labor, Legal Redress, Membership, Political Action, Public Relations, Religious Affairs and Veteran Affairs.

 

Since 2010, Akosua Ali has led the NAACP in processing over 611 discrimination complaints addressing police misconduct, housing, education, employment and consumer rights.  Akosua Ali leads legislative and public policy advocacy testifying on key legislation including (B24-0338) Redefinition of the Child Amendment Act, (B24-112) White Supremacy in Policing Prevention Act, (B24-94) Bias In Threat Assessments Evaluation Amendment Act, (B24-107) Metropolitan Police Department Requirement Of Superior Officer Present At Unoccupied Vehicle Search, No Jumpout Searches Act, and (B24-213) Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act.

 

She leads the NAACP’s development of comprehensive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) and Risk Mitigation plans, in response to racial discrimination and incidents of institutionalized racism.  She has developed and implemented Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Plans and Racial Equity Plans outlining a racially inclusive vision and plan of action based on DEI principles and strategies supporting the creation of more inclusive work environments and BIPOC partnerships.  She leads the NAACP in delivering transformative Racial Justice & DEI solutions in conjunction with organizational strategic planning supporting internal and external anti-racist policies and conducts trainings on Racial Equity, Anti-Racism, Implicit Bias, Individual Racism, Structural Racism, Diversity and Civil Rights.

 

In 2017, Akosua Ali pioneered the launch of the Next Generation Leadership Training Program for young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40 to complete a series of classroom trainings, webinar trainings, case studies, group assignments and special projects on leadership fundamentals, voter registration, GOTV, political action, economic empowerment, criminal justice, environmental justice, health advocacy, technology and racial justice.   This National Leadership Development Training Program has successfully trained over 600 students across 33 states encompassing 16 core-competency curriculum areas.

 

Professionally, Akosua Ali has a record of driving mission-success and maximizing operational efficiencies at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Census Bureau, Federal Aviation Administration, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island, and State of Rhode Island Secretary of State.  In addition, she had early experience in the nutrition and culinary arts profession. 

 

As a Director at the U.S. Department of Homeland, Akosua Ali has delivered innovative performance management, human resource management and DEI workforce engagement solutions, supporting mission-critical business operations within a $603 million budget.  Akosua Ali has managed budget formulation, project management, spend plan development, budget execution, acquisition planning, contract management and performance management. Akosua Ali manages 688 active contracts, 200 new contract awards, 1,200 purchasing requisitions, 120 interagency agreements and 800 contract closeouts annually, guaranteeing compliance and issuance of policies.  Akosua Ali yielded over $41 million, over four years, by leading innovative acquisitions, financial analysis and contract closeout de-obligation actions.  In 2019, Akosua Ali successfully administrated $97 million in funding by implementing performance management optimization efforts and leading the Integrated Program Team’s (IPT) implementation of a new ServiceNow performance management tool. She managed enterprise program management, risk management, problem management, communications and organizational development functions including workforce engagement and human resource management.  She maximized operational efficiencies, revenue and economic benefits by leading change management, best practice process improvements and cost-efficient initiatives.  Professional awards include receiving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, OCIO, I AM IT! Acquisition Program Manager Award in 2018, the Rising Star Government Innovation Award in 2015, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, OCIO, ITSO, 3rd Quarter Employee of the Quarter in June 2014 and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ITSO Employee Excellence Award in February 2012.

 

At the U.S. Census Bureau, Akosua Ali implemented the $319 million communications campaign developing television, radio, and print advertisement, 300 promotional products and road tour advertisements targeting 8 audiences including Diverse America, African-American, LatinX, American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Islander audiences in 28 different languages.  She monitored $10 billion program budget execution of obligations, transactions, and expenditures. She advised senior officials on approval of funding requests, cost estimates, and budget actions; executed budget and financial allotment requests.  She produced technical documents for government audits and congressional inquiries. She conducted research to generate audit responses, budget estimates, and FOIA requests.  She executed $107 million 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funding procuring additional 2010 Census communications targeting American-Indian, Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese audiences.  She executed $121 million in FY09 and $176 million in FY10 generating over 197 purchase requisitions for the marketing campaign. She managed the development, production, and on-site execution of the 2010 Census Paid Advertising for television, radio, and print advertisements in Juneau, AK, on the Navajo Reservation in Utah and the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.  Professional awards include receiving the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 Publicity Office Special Act Award in March 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 Publicity Office Award in September 2009 and the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2010 Publicity Office Award in August 2009.

 

At the Federal Aviation Administration between 2007 and 2009, Akosua Ali conducted budget formulation and financial management for the FAA Contract Weather Observation program by performing financial analysis, budget execution, fiscal planning and budget preparation. She managed financial and contract actions for the FAA Contract Weather Observation $40 million program budget and the FAA Contract Tower $112 million program budget.  She wrote and coordinated the approval of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the newly reorganized Contract Tower and Weather Group (CTWG) Program, consolidating Program Operations, Business Management, Contract Weather Observation, FAA Contract Tower programs pricing proposals, and invoices.   She maximized operational efficiency through providing project management, contract management, budget management, quality assurance, and programmatic support for weather observation and air traffic control contracts. Akosua Ali received the FAA Contract Tower and Weather Group, Outstanding Service Award in December 2007.

 

At Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island between 2004 and 2006, Akosua Ali provided financial analysis and budget support for a $35 million operating budget for corporate assets and ensuring the safety and security of company assets. Developed spreadsheets, created charts, filtered data, created pivot tables, and ran macros in Microsoft Excel to manage financial data.  She generated cost estimates, supported budget formulation, and project activities for the Facilities, Business Resumption Planning, Security, Building Services, and Office Services departments.  She developed request for proposals (RFP) and prepared purchase requisitions for support service contracts, construction projects, real estate, and resource acquisitions.  She processed rent and expense invoices for all leased buildings within a $4.6 million department budget and maintained spreadsheets tracking the budget execution. 

 

Akosua Ali worked for the State of Rhode Island, Secretary of State Matthew Brown’s Civic Participation Public Information and Business Development Division between 2003 and 2004, where she performed research analysis on the Business Development and Civic Participation division activities through qualitative, and quantitative analytical techniques.  She managed the Business Development division’s constituent database, performed queries, and generated reports in Microsoft Access, which were reviewed by the senior administration staff.  She assisted in planning the Secretary of State’s 2003 Small Business Expo through analyzing the Business Development divisions budget, developing program briefing materials, and preparing communications recommending programmatic budget-related actions.  She updated the Secretary of State’s Bill Tracker database and assisted in maintaining the compliance of Rhode Island lobbyist through demonstrating a thorough understanding of lobbyist regulations and processing lobbyist applications.

 

Her previous culinary arts experience includes working at BET on Jazz Restaurant under Chef Terrell Danly between 1997 and 2000 and working at Bretton Woods Country Club in Potomac, MD under Chef Troy Williams in 2002.  Additional culinary arts experience includes working at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in DC up until September 11, 2001, followed by working at Nineteen Ten Restaurant in Washington, DC.

 

Akosua Ali graduated with her Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Global Business and Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.  Akosua Ali achieved multiple academic honors including the Johnson & Wales University Silver Key Honor Society in April 2002 and the Johnson & Wales University Golden Quill Honor Society Award in April 2003.

 

Akosua graduated from School Without Walls, Senior High School in 2000, where she also completed college classes at American University and the University of the District of Columbia, during her junior and senior years of high school.  Akosua Ali was a dual scholarship recipient through the Career Through Culinary Art Program (CCAP) competitions in 1999 and 2000.  In 1999, she was awarded the Culinary Institute of America Junior Career Discovery Award.  In 2000, she was awarded Johnson & Wales University $40,000 Scholarship.  

 

Akosua Ali is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a service sorority.  Akosua was initiated into the Lambda Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2003.  Today, Akosua Ali is a member of the Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.  Akosua Ali is also a chartering member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blacks In Government (BIG) Chapter.  

 

As a native of Washington, DC, Akosua Ali was born at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC to parents Kofi Tyus and Shirley Suber-Tyus among four siblings, including Andre, Yao, Ama, and Aba Tyus.   Her father, Kofi Tyus, is the Founder of Kofi Tyus Studios, which is the oldest black-owned greeting card company in Washington, DC.  Her mother, Shirley Tyus, is retired as a commercial airline pilot on the Boeing 777, making history in 1991 as the First Black Female Pilot for United Airlines and becoming the third Black Female Commercial airline pilot in the U.S.  Akosua Ali is married to Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, who is internationally renowned as a Thought-Leader, Political Strategist and Environmental Justice Activist focused on revitalizing our most vulnerable communities.   Dr. Ali is the Founder & CEO of Revitalization Strategies LLC and is regularly featured on MSNBC, CNN, VICE, and Democracy NOW.  

 

Akosua Ali is the Founder & CEO of Crimson Solutions LLC, a company dedicating to providing premier solutions to transform and innovate organizations through strategic visioning, crisis management, risk mitigation, brand management, event planning, communications and corporate reimagining specializing in the areas of advancing Diversity, Equity & Inclusions (DEI), Racial Equity and Social Justice.

 

Today, Akosua Ali continues to champion transformative change through delivering innovative solutions to successfully uplift, inspire and advance diversity, equity and racial justice in all spaces.  Akosua Ali is committed to building employees and teams to deliver mission-focused execution, managing budgets and fiscal compliance, scaling organizations efficiently, building consensus, aligning mission to action and outcomes to improve informed decision making and advance equity, civil rights and justice initiatives. Be the change… Transformative change by design!