Imani Marshall is the Evaluation and Learning Analyst at Mid-City Community Advocacy Network (CAN). She evaluates the organization’s programs and supports organizing and advocacy efforts with research.

Imani is a proud Chicago native and new San Diegan. Both places have taught her about the intersection of identity, power, health, and place. From a young age, Imani sought to address injustice in her community. She volunteered with several organizations to improve her neighborhood and worked as an Organizing Fellow for President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

To better understand how power could be wielded to advance justice, Imani studied Political Science at Amherst College. Through leadership roles with GlobeMed and the Roosevelt Institute at Amherst, she worked on both the international and local levels to support equitable community development. These pursuits also developed her advocacy, policy analysis, organizing, and coalition-building skills. Professionally Imani has applied these skills to new issues, broadening her understanding of change-making.

As a Bill Emerson Nation Hunger Fellow, Imani developed programs and conducted research to improve low-income mothers’ access to breastfeeding support and healthy foods in New Orleans. She also conducted research to evaluate WIC’s national participation and retention rates. Now, as Mid-City CAN’s Evaluation and Learning Analyst, Imani applies her research and evaluation skills to support positive, resident-led change in City Heights.

Imani is excited to engage and grow with other young local Progressives as a member of the 2019 SDLA cohort.