Raumesh Akbari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Raumesh Akbari
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Akbari in 2014
|
|
| Minority Leader of the Tennessee Senate | |
| Assumed office January 10, 2023 |
|
| Preceded by | Jeff Yarbro |
| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 29th district |
|
| Assumed office January 8, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Lee Harris |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 91st district |
|
| In office November 2013 – January 8, 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Lois DeBerry |
| Succeeded by | London Lamar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 14, 1984 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Washington University (BA) Saint Louis University (JD) |
Raumesh Aleza Akbari (born April 14, 1984) is an American politician. She is a member of the Tennessee Senate, representing the 29th district since 2019. Before this, she was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. She is part of the Democratic Party.
Early Life and Education
Raumesh Akbari was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Her parents, Lisa and Hooshang, were specialists in hair and scalp care. Her father came from Iran, and her mother was from Memphis. Raumesh also has a twin sister named Raumina.
She graduated from Cordova High School in Memphis in 2002. She then went to Washington University in St. Louis. In 2006, she earned a degree in African American studies and also studied political science. In 2009, she received her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law.
Today, Akbari helps manage legal and human resources for Akbari Corp. This is a small business her parents started in 1981. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The Links.
Political Career
Akbari was first elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2013. She served three terms in the House. In 2018, she was elected to the Tennessee State Senate.
She is involved in several important groups. These include the National Bar Association and the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (N.O.B.E.L Women). She is also part of The NewDEAL and the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
In 2015, other female state lawmakers chose Akbari to be the state co-director for Women in Government. This is a group for women in state legislatures. In 2017, she became the Chair of the Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators. She currently serves as the President-Elect of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
Akbari was one of several speakers who gave the main speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. She also spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. In 2019, she was chosen as a Marshall Memorial Fellow in Europe. This program helps leaders learn about other countries.
Key Policy Goals
Raumesh Akbari works on several important issues. These include making the justice system fairer and helping communities grow economically. She also supports expanding healthcare and investing more in public education.
She has pushed for Tennessee to expand its Medicaid program. This program helps people get healthcare. She also supports a state law to make sure women get equal pay for the same work.
After an event at a cemetery in Memphis in 2014, Akbari helped create a law. This law makes it easier for families to know where their loved ones are buried.
In 2014, Shelby County Schools planned to close some schools. Akbari helped form a group called "Save-Alcy" to keep Alcy Elementary open. After talks, the school board decided not to close the school. This was because many community leaders promised to volunteer there. Akbari was praised for her efforts to help the school.
She has also worked to clean up and restore old grave sites. These include Mount Carmel and Hollywood cemeteries. They were hard to reach before because of overgrown plants.
Personal Life
Raumesh Akbari lives in Memphis, Tennessee. She volunteers with Meals on Wheels. This program delivers food to people who need it. She is a Baptist.
