Zakiya

If you would like to plan a speaking event with Zakiya, please email her at zakiya@globalexchange.org!

Zakiya Harris is a California native, who has been working as an artist, educator and activist for the past 10 years. She received her B.A. in Political Science and History from Rutgers University and attended New College of Law in San Francisco before leaving to pursue her life long passion of teaching.

She has taught elementary through collegiate level in a variety of public and private settings. In 2003, she became the lead trainer at the DJ Project where she facilitated job training and entrepreneurship modules using the medium of hip-hop culture. In 2007, she co-founded "Grind for the Green," the largest youth-led green events production program in the Bay Area that uses the arts to engage youth of color in the burgeoning green economy. The program was heralded for its innovation and production of the 1st Solar Powered Hip-Hop Music Concert in San Francisco.

Some of her recent achievements include receiving the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Future Leaders award and becoming a Fellow in the Green For All Academy. Currently she is the Regional Director of the San Francisco Green Festival, an accomplished vocalist who performs nationally with her husband in the hip-hop group FIYAWATA and the proud mother of a beautiful 3-year-old daughter.