Akil is a State Advocacy Manager in the Dental Access Program at Community Catalyst. His time is dedicated to the team’s work with the DentaQuest Partnership & W.K. Kellogg Foundation working with a national network of state advocates to develop strategic advocacy plans to advance oral health as a health care, race and social justice issue in the pursuit of consumer-aligned policy solutions.

Prior to Community Catalyst, Akil worked as a Health Education Consultant with the Alachua County, Florida Department of Health where he informed families of and empowered them to enroll in the Health Department dental clinic along with other services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health from the University of Florida. During his time there, Akil held numerous leadership positions such as serving as the President of the Black Student Union where he organized and served a growing membership base of 2,000+ active members. In other capacities, Akil has curated health promotional materials and facilitated behavioral health sessions for college students to achieve optimal well-being goals. He attributes his experience in creating and facilitating social justice workshops and retreats to successful advocacy management.

Community Catalyst works to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill.