Public Policy Non-Profit

GARCIA MAVINGA SOZINHO

+1-202-***-**** *******@*****.*** Philadelphia, PA

Political consultant and professional government, legislative and public policy researcher with over 20 years of experience in running political campaigns, advising local governments, political, corporate, and non-profit organizations and conducting legislative research, writing, advocacy and partnership development. Extensive expertise in research writing and analysis of U.S., in particular the state of Pennsylvania, and African politics, governance, law, and foreign affairs. WORK EXPERIENCE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER, ISRAEL-AFRICA RELATIONS INSTITUTE, HERZLIYA, ISRAEL December 2024 – Present – Focus on fostering partnerships that emphasize the pivotal relationship between Israel and the African continent, including their politics, cultures, and people. Responsibilities include drafting articles, reports, and analyses that highlight the interconnected roles of Black America and U.S.-Africa relations as part of the larger historical and sociopolitical linkages between America, Israel, and Africa. SENIOR CONSULTANT, MORAN GLOBAL STRATEGIES, WASHINGTON D.C. October 2024 – Present – I lead research initiatives and provide strategic policy guidance. My focus is on U.S.-Africa relations and investment mobilization, leveraging my extensive background in African political dynamics and U.S. legislative affairs. I specialize in developing research-driven solutions that bridge policy and public affairs, including crafting legislative briefs and policy memos to support our clients' objectives in government relations and public policy sectors. LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ADVISOR, DAVID SCOTT PARTNERS LLC, PHILADELPHIA PA January 2021 – August 2024 – Provide research and policy writing for the government relations, public policy, and legislative affairs firm, David Scott Partners. This includes drafting research documents for business development and investment projects and mobilizing overseas investors for U.S. projects. VICE PRES. OF CAMPAIGNS & INTRL PROJECTS, LUMINOUS STRATEGIES LLC, HARRISBURG, PA January 2010 to 2021 – I managed Luminous Strategies' political campaign clients and spearheaded the firm’s international client operations. In this role, I focused on supporting clients in their engagement and outreach with minority communities and constituencies, including African-American, immigrant, rural, and Hispanic groups. As VP for International Projects, I recruited and managed the firm’s international clients, primarily organizations from sub- Saharan Africa. My responsibilities included orchestrating initiatives aimed at fostering collaborations between U.S. and African organizations. I played a pivotal role in organizing U.S. engagements for African clients, spanning diverse areas such as connecting with U.S. advocacy groups, participating in U.S. conferences, capacity building, and cultivating partnerships with U.S. non-profits, the private sector, and investment institutions. Additionally, I managed the firm’s client relations, particularly in lobbying efforts within PA’s General Assembly and Philadelphia City Government. Notable examples of work include: PENNSYLVANIA STATE AND PHILADELPHIA CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

• Assisted PennFutures, a Harrisburg-based nonprofit focused on a clean energy economy and protecting air, water, and land, in engaging with the Pennsylvania state government and General Assembly, building statewide and local community coalitions to advocate for clean water policies, particularly in strengthening the Coalition for the Delaware.

• Assisted Philly 3.0, a Philadelphia-based political organization, in lobbying local government for more business- friendly policies, and in recruiting and supporting business-friendly candidates for local offices.

• Supported Harvest Health and Recreation Inc. (now part of Trulieve Cannabis Corp), a medical marijuana company, in engaging with local community and business leaders, community organizations, and business associations throughout Pennsylvania to garner support for establishing multiple cannabis dispensaries across the state.

• Other activities including, representing the association of Philadelphia Airbnb providers in advocating for business friend regulation from city government, representing the Peebles Corporation in the firm’s efforts to win City Council support for its purchase and redevelop the historic Philadelphia Family Court into a hotel, managing the successful election of Transport Worker Union (TWU) local 234 President Willie Brown, amongst other clients US – AFRICA PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS

Conceived and organized a U.S.-Africa Infrastructure and Investment Forum in partnership with Ambassador Elkanah Odembo, Kenya’s former Ambassador to the United States, the Washington D.C.-based Constituency for Africa (CFA), and Nixon Peabody Law firm. The forum featured Raila Odinga, African Union High Representative on Infrastructure Development, and brought together leaders from U.S. public finance, diplomacy, and trade, as well as African-American community leaders.

DIRECTOR, AFR-AMERICAN & MINORITY OUTREACH, TIM DEFOOR (REPUBLICAN) FOR AUDITOR GENERAL Organized outreach and engagement activities for Dauphin County Controller Tim DeFoor’s successful and historic campaign for Pennsylvania Auditor General. AG DeFoor became the first Black auditor general in Pennsylvania’s history. Engagements focused on mobilizing conservative-minded voters, particularly minority and immigrant communities, by connecting with professional and social community organizations and networks. ORGANIZATOINAL CONSULTANT (NAIROBI, REPUBLIC OF KENYA)

(January 2010 - 2014) – I was recruited to the Republic of Kenya to work with several social and political organizations in their efforts to engage with voters, citizens, and communities in the context of the implementation of that nation’s 2010 Constitution. This included:

• Campaign Manager and Chief Strategist Peter Kenneth for President – Managed the Presidential campaign of Peter Kenneth, a popular Member of Kenya’s Parliament and Deputy Minister for Planning, in the lead-up to the nation’s 2013 General Elections. This involved building the campaign’s organizational capacity, advising on personnel, drafting the campaign plan, digital and technology strategy, and field outreach plan under an organizational methodology I developed called REACT3 (Recruitment, Retention, and Readiness – Action!). Mr. Kenneth finished 4th in the Presidential elections and has remained a mainstay in Kenyan national politics. I introduced digital technology into Kenya’s electoral system and adapted Barack Obama’s digital organizing strategy to the Kenyan political environment through MyPK.com, a localized version of MyBarackObama.com. My efforts were highlighted in a March 5, 2013, article in the Boston Globe titled "America’s best export: Politics," written by Farah Stockman, who was then a Globe columnist, after I organized her interview with the candidate. (https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/03/05/america-best-export- politics/Po0U5qxrzC2B3PBnyE4sRO/story.html)

• Campaign Strategies for Raphael Tuju – Provided organizational strategy and support for Raphael Tuju’s, Kenya’s former minister for Foreign Affairs, Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization, as he considered running for the Presidency of Kenya. Ultimately, I assisted Mr. Tuju in forming an alliance with Mr. Kenneth, whose candidacy he endorsed.

• Organizational Strategist Madaraka People's Movement – Served as Organizational Strategist for the Madaraka People's Movement – Provided organizational strategy advice to this ‘youth-focused’ Kenyan socio-political movement and political party, including advice on membership growth and development, under my REACT3 methodology.

• Collaborated with various non-profits and social organizations, including the political outfit G7, while supporting multiple politicians running for legislative office. LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PA STATE REP. TONY PAYTON JR, HARRISBURG, PA Jan 2008 to Dec 2010 – As Legislative Director for State Representative Tony Payton Jr., I conducted legislative and policy research, drafted legislation, policy memos, and policy briefs, and supported the legislator’s activities in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. I also engaged in community development and constituency-related work, such as liaising with local non- profits on issues of relevance to the legislator’s office. FOUNDATIONAL SOCIAL POLITICAL AND GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE

• 2007 - Campaign Manager/Finance Director, PA State Representative Tony Payton, Philadelphia, PA

• 2007 - Volunteer Coordinator, Barack Obama for President full time, Spring 2007, Philadelphia, PA

• 2002 – 2007 - Social Worker/Case Manager, Philadelphia Department of Human Services (DHS), Philadelphia, PA

• 2002 - Grassroots Political Organizer, Jake Wheatley for State Representative, Pittsburgh, PA

• 2000- 2001 - Assistant to Community Affairs Coordinator PA State Senator Vincent Hughes, Philadelphia, PA

• 2000 - Grassroots Political Organizer, Al Gore for President, Philadelphia, PA

• 2000 - Grassroots Political Organizer, Bill Bradley for President. Manchester, NH EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF ARTS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, WEST CHESTER UNIV. – MAY 2007 Received degree in International Relations with honors and Dean’s List recognition. Led political science departments delegation’s participation in Model United Nations COURSEWORK, WIDENER UNIVERSTY SCHOOL OF LAW, WILMINGTON, DE –2003 - 2004 Admitted to and conducted some coursework at Widener University school of law. BACHELOR OF ARTS, POLITICAL SCIENCE, INDIANA UNIERSITY OF PENNSLVANIA – MAY 2001 Received bachelor’s degree in political science with primary focus on US state government administrative policy and a minor in Psychology

PROESSIONAL STRENGTHS & SOCIAL BACKGROUND, INTERESTS & SOCIAL

• Can easily navigate diverse cultural and political groups, including racial, ethnic and immigrant groups in United States politics, as well as social and professional organizations and associations

• Strong understanding of US political system, politics, government structure and government relations, from the county, state to national level

• Strong understanding of the political economies of Sub- Saharan Africa, particularly the countries of the Great Lakes Region of Africa/Central and Eastern Africa

• Facebook Page: GarciaMavingaSozinho

• X (Twitter): @MweneMavingaAmerica

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Garcia-Mavinga- Sozinho-49637911/

• Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

(former Zaire), of parents from the Republic of Angola, raised in Philadelphia, PA

• Family moved to the United States when my father, a senior politico-military member of the Front for the National Liberation of Angola (FNLA), a U.S. supported anti-communist liberation organization, received political asylum from the government of President Ronald Reagan

• Member of United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA)

• Vice President of the Angolan Community Center of Pennsylvania

• Member of Phi Beta Sigma, a historically Black collegiate and professional Greek-letter Fraternity

• Member, Mayors Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs, Philadelphia City-County

• Working knowledge of Kiswahili language

REFERENCES

• Tony Payton Jr. (former PA State Representative), Partner, David Scott Partners LLC, former o Cellphone: +1-215-***-****

o Email: ****@******************.***, ************@*****.***

• David Dix, CEO, Luminous Strategies LLC

o Cellphone: +1-267-***-****

o Email: *****@******************.***, ******@*****.***

• Tim DeFoor, Auditor General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania o Cellphone: +1-717-***-****

o Email: ***@*********.***, *********@*******.***

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