our team
We’re a small team with big ideas and a passion for doing things well.
BAJI is powered by a team of organizers, advocates, strategists, and storytellers committed to advancing justice for Black immigrants.
We come from across the Black diaspora—bringing different experiences, perspectives, and skills—but we are united in purpose.
Our work is rooted in community. We build with, not for. We listen, we organize, and we act.
Together, we are working to ensure Black immigrants are seen, protected, and valued—and that our communities have the power to shape the systems that impact our lives.
nana gyamfi
Executive director
Nana Gyamfi received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and her Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law. She brings with her over three decades of service to the Movement for Black liberation, and over twenty years experience directing Black social justice organizations and networks. Nana is a human rights and criminal defense attorney, a professor in the Pan African Studies Department at the California State University Los Angeles, and radio personality who hosts 2 popular shows in Los Angeles, CA. She is also the president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers (NCBL).
As a seasoned organizer and activist, Nana has been involved with and led various local, national, and international social justice organizations for over thirty years. She is a Co-Founder and managing member of two Black-led and Black-focused organizations – Justice Warriors 4 Black Lives and Human Rights Advocacy. She is a co-founder and Core Team Member of Black August Los Angeles. She has also served as Executive Director of Black Women’s Forum, an organization founded by Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who serves as its President.
Meet the National Team
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Abraham Paulos
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
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Nekessa Opoti
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
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Tsion Gurmu
LEGAL DIRECTOR
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Ronald Claude
POLICY & ADVOCACY DIRECTOR