Isaac Bryan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Bryan
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| Majority Leader of the California Assembly | |
| In office July 3, 2023 – November 22, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Eloise Reyes |
| Succeeded by | Cecilia Aguiar-Curry |
| Member of the California Assembly | |
| Assumed office May 28, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Sydney Kamlager |
| Constituency | 54th district (2021–2022) 55th district (2022–present) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 16, 1992 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Arizona (BA) University of California, Los Angeles (MPP) |
Isaac Gregory Bryan (born January 16, 1992) is an American politician. He serves as a member of the California State Assembly. He represents the 55th district. This area includes a large part of South Central Los Angeles. Before becoming a politician, Bryan was a leader at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He directed the Black Policy Project. He also led public policy for the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center. From July to November 2023, he was the Assembly Majority Leader.
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Isaac Bryan's Early Life and Education
Isaac Bryan was born in Dallas, Texas. His birth mother was a teenager living in poverty. She gave him up for adoption when he was a baby. Isaac was adopted as an infant. He has lived in California since he was in sixth grade. His family helped many children over two decades. They were a foster family for hundreds of kids. They adopted Isaac and eight other children from the child welfare system.
Schooling and College
Bryan went to seven different public schools. He also attended two California community colleges. Later, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. He studied political science and sociology. While there, he worked as a researcher. He focused on making changes to the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems. He also helped a team that made sure laws were followed by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Bryan then earned a master's degree in Public Policy from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. In 2017, he became a special fellow. He worked in the office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. There, he helped write a report. This report looked at the needs of people who had been involved with the justice system.
Isaac Bryan's Career and Public Service
Leading the UCLA Black Policy Project
Isaac Bryan started and led the UCLA Black Policy Project (BPP). This project connects important research about Black communities at UCLA with public policy decisions. Bryan also directed public policy for UCLA's Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies.
During his time at UCLA, Bryan wrote many studies and reports. He and The Million Dollar Hoods Project wrote reports. These reports looked at how students interacted with the Los Angeles School Police Department. Bryan often shared his thoughts in the media. He spoke about issues of racial inequality in the United States. In the summer of 2020, after the death of George Floyd, Bryan led peaceful protests in Los Angeles.
Working for Justice Reform
Bryan was a key thinker who explained "defunding police." He said it meant asking how much money we spend on policing. He believed we should spend more on social services instead. Bryan helped lead a big effort in Los Angeles County called Measure J. Over 2.1 million voters approved this measure. It sets aside at least 10% of the county's money. This money helps communities affected by racial injustice. It also supports other ways to deal with problems instead of just putting people in jail. Bryan often writes and talks about changes needed in policing and justice in the United States. He strongly believes we should stop punishing people just for being poor.
Isaac Bryan in the California State Assembly
Becoming an Assembly Member
In 2021, Bryan announced he would run for the California Assembly. He wanted to take the place of Sydney Kamlager, who moved to the California Senate. Many people in Los Angeles supported Bryan's campaign.
Bryan won the special election for the 54th district. He received over 50% of the votes in the first round. He was then sworn into office. On July 3, 2023, Bryan was named Majority Leader of the Assembly. He took over from Eloise Reyes.
What He Has Achieved
During his time in the Legislature, Bryan has done many important things:
- He helped create the UCLA Center on Reproductive Health Law and Policy.
- He ended "prison gerrymandering." This means counting prisoners in their home districts, not where the prison is.
- He helped return millions of dollars in benefits that were taken from foster youth.
- He helped shut down the largest urban oil field in California.
- He created a registry for people living with ALS (a serious illness).
- He improved health insurance coverage for students.
- He expanded practices that help people resolve conflicts peacefully.
- He started a special committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion.
Bryan is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus. In 2024, he was chosen to be the Vice-Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
