Beginning his teens, Marqueece has been active in the community for more than twenty years. Currently he is Executive Director of the Community Coalition, a community-based organization in South Los Angeles. Marqueece is the organization’s second Executive Director, following it’s founder, current US Rep. Karen Bass.
The organization is best known for leading grassroots campaigns to close 200 liquor stores in South Los Angeles and to win College Prep courses for all LAUSD students. For 5 years, Marqueece directed Community Coalition's youth project, South Central Youth Empowered thru Action. During that time, Marqueece led a campaign to expose poor conditions at South LA schools. Members of South Central Youth Empowered thru Action were armed with disposable cameras to document the conditions at their schools, and trained to advocate for badly needed repairs at their campuses. Students won $153 million in repairs for their schools. Following up on his work to improve conditions at South LA High Schools. Marqueece and the Community Coalition spearheaded a movement to guarantee universal access to college prep courses at every high school in Los Angeles.
In addition to his work at the Community Coalition Marqueece has extensive experience in electoral politics, and is a key participant in the progressive movement in Los Angeles. During his time completing a Bachelor’s degree at Morehouse College, Marqueece cut his activist teeth on several important community issues including ending South African Apartheid, police brutality and youth and family services. Along with a host of Board and Committee posts, Marqueece boasts several community commendations, recognitions and awards including the coveted Do Something “BRICK” Award and Liberty Hill Foundation’s Upton Sinclair Award. Marqueece recently received a certificate in non profit management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and is a currently an Aspen Institute Fellow for New Leaders.
Specialties: nonprofit management, public policy, community advocacy, grant writing, public speaking, electoral campaigns