Ajay Lucas is a seasoned policy strategist with over a decade of experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. In his current role as Senior Policy Manager at UNITE-LA, he leverages his extensive background to strengthen the organization’s cradle-through-career policy agenda.
Prior to his current role, Lucas led systems-change efforts within the workforce development department at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, fostering collaboration among education, business, and workforce leaders. He has also served as an immigration legal service provider at the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), spearheading partnerships with local community colleges and state universities in Southern California.
Before transitioning to policy work, Lucas spent nearly a decade in the fashion industry, working with Fortune 500 companies. His experiences as a formerly undocumented immigrant fueled his passion for advocacy in education equity, language justice, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration reform, and economic justice. He is committed to enhancing education and career pathways for marginalized communities, particularly immigrants and English learners in California.
Lucas holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Berkeley and is currently completing a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Southern California. In his spare time, Lucas enjoys hiking, running, mentoring students, and caring for his over 100 house plants, embodying the spirit of continuous self-improvement and service to others.