Temi F. Bennett, Esq.

Experience

• 

  Library of Congress

  Sept 2009 - Mar 2010

  Labor Relations Specialist

  •Summary: Investigated, evaluated, and drafted agency grievance decisions and negotiated collective bargaining agreements with labor organizations.

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  Capital Area Law Group

  Mar 2010 - Feb 2011

  General Practice Counsel

  • Summary: Litigated Workers’ Compensation matters.

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  J. Anukem & Associates

  Apr 2011 - Jul 2012

  Of Counsel

  • Summary: Managed the firm’s Workers’ Compensation matters.

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  Japan Exchange and Teaching Program(me) (JET)

  Aug 2012 - Jul 2013

  English Second Language Instructor

  • Summary: Assigned by the Kyotango-shi Board of Education as the only non-Japanese instructor to teach English in two public junior high schools and six public elementary schools.

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  J. Anukem & Associates LLC

  Aug 2013 - Dec 2016

  Of Counsel

  • Summary: Managed the firm’s Workers’ Compensation matters.

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  National Coalition of 100 Black Women Metro DC Chapter

  Jan 2015 - Jul 2017

  Public Policy Chair

  • Developed, researched, and drafted the three policy positions on health, education, and economic empowerment that were advocated at D.C. Council’s Annual Legislative Days.• Co-chaired the 2016 National Legislative Day, which was attended by 16 Members of Congress and 200 Coalition Members from 62 chapters across the country. • Developed, researched, and drafted the four policy positions on voting rights, gun violence, community policing, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) that were advocated at the 2016 National Legislative Day. • Developed and supervised legislative briefings, capacity building, and chapter development programs. Show less

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  Council of the District of Columbia

  Jan 2017 - Mar 2018

  • Developed and implemented the Business and Economic Development Committee’s legislative and oversight agenda to facilitate optimal performance of all committee agencies and organizations.• Developed performance recommendations and reviewed government programs and agencies, including the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and the Department of Small and Local Business Development, to ensure operational and regulatory compliance.• Tracked and briefed the Member on the District’s land surplus and disposition pending legislation and hearings, and racial equity legislation and policy. Show less • Developed and implemented the Committee’s legislative, oversight, and budgetary agenda to ensure optimal performance and adequate funding of all committee agencies and organizations. • Drafted and secured the passage of key government operations committee legislation and functions, including statutorily establishing the District’s Office on African American Affairs and increasing the funding and resources of the Office on African Affairs. • Tracked and briefed the Member on health, economic development, and workforce development legislation and policy. • Reviewed the performance of government programs and agencies, including the Office on Latino Affairs, Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, Office on African Affairs, and the Office on LGBTQ Affairs, to ensure operational, regulatory, budgetary compliance. • Developed recommendations for spending and cost-savings for five District agencies, including the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, which had a $114 million annual budget.• Managed relationships with District and federal agencies, interest groups, advocates, Council and Executive staff, constituents, and residents. Show less

  • Legislative Counsel

    Jan 2018 - Mar 2018

  • Legislative Counsel

    Jan 2017 - Jan 2018
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  If, A Foundation for Radical Possibility

  Mar 2018 - now

  • Engage local government policymakers, agency leaders, nonprofit partners, peer funders, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies that advance racially-equitable policies and systems change.• Co-lead the DC Initiative on Racial Equity and Local Governments, a coalition of organizations devoted to engaging government leaders in the District in racial equity training and technical assistance opportunities to inform decision-making.• Identify opportunities to convene government leaders across the region to advance their learning and engagement with racial equity concepts and approaches. • Coordinate with the senior program officer on the foundation’s work to build community members’ and grantee partners’ capacities to apply a racial equity lens to policy advocacy.• Manage the foundation’s relationships with research organizations to ensure that the data commissioned will be useful for policymakers and other government stakeholders.• Supervise the foundation’s program associate in developing and implementing communication products for various audiences.• Represent the foundation through speaking engagements, trainings, and panels. Show less

  • Co-CEO

    Nov 2022 - now

  • Director of Policy

    Mar 2018 - Dec 2022