SUMI PARANJAPE
Sumi Marie Paranjape, PhD, MPH is a fellow in the School of Public Health at the UC Berkeley where her work focuses on the global spread of dengue virus and issues of intellectual property, bioethics and access to health care.
Sumi’s decision to run for the Democratic Central Committee stems from her long-standing interest and involvement in voter engagement and community-building projects. Starting in fourth grade, when she worked on Harold Washington’s first mayoral race in Chicago, Sumi has been a tireless volunteer with local and national Democratic campaigns. After moving to the Bay Area in 2000, Sumi became active in local grassroots organizations including MoveOn.org, Global Exchange and East Bay for Democracy/DFA. During the 2004 Presidential campaign, Sumi co-founded the organization “No American Left Behind” which organized voter engagement and get-out-the-vote events in the Bay Area, Seattle and Philadelphia and fundraised for local, progressive, grassroots groups. In 2007, Sumi graduated from EMERGE, a well-respected program designed to mentor and train democratic women leaders. Sumi served as a Northern California outreach coordinator for the Obama campaign and as a precinct captain in her Oakland neighborhood where she worked with an incredible group of volunteers to very successfully get-out the vote for Obama. Sumi worked on behalf of the Obama campaign in Iowa and Texas and she continues to support the campaign while also supporting local progressive Democrats and propositions that will be on the June 3rd ballot in California.
“This is an incredible era for Democrats—with new voters registering and increased interest in politics, we are faced with an unprecedented opportunity to reinvigorate the Party, increase involvement, and push for a progressive Democratic agenda that reflects the values of Alameda County residents. The Democratic Central Committee has the power to make sure that our county - with the highest percentage of democratic voters in the State - takes the lead and pushes for a progressive democratic agenda at the local and state levels. If elected to the DCC, I will apply my organizational and policy experience and work with the other members of the committee to: 1) Increase registration, engagement and turnout of Democrats. 2) Increase transparency and accountability of the Party. 3) Support, train and endorse progressive democratic candidates. 4) Organize and collaborate with grassroots political organizations to build strong, progressive, democratic coalitions.
I pledge to work to organize and inspire democratic voters in Alameda County so that we can build a formidable, progressive democratic voting block and ensure that our values and ideals are reflected at the State and local levels.”
Endorsements
- Hon. Sandre Swanson, Assemblymember
- Hon. Loni Hancock, Assemblymember
- Hon. Tony Thurmond, Richmond City Council
- Hon. Keith Carson, Alameda County Supervisor, District 5
- Hon. Nicky Gonzales-Yuen, Peralta Community College District Trustee
- Hon. Abel Guillen, Peralta Community College District Trustee
- Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
- East Bay for Democracy
- East Bay Young Democrats
- Alameda Democratic Club
- Alameda County Democratic Lawyers Club
- Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus
(partial list)
