Ali Cooper

Ali Cooper, who attended San Diego State University, has transformed personal tragedy into fervent advocacy for social justice and community empowerment. A first-generation immigrant from Vietnam, his life was significantly shaped by the tragic shooting of his father when he was just five and his subsequent passing from cancer during adolescence.

In his advocacy work, Ali champions climate justice, workforce development, and sustainable economies, notably launching successful public-private ventures to bring low-cost electric vehicles to disadvantaged communities and initiating ventures to onshore medical manufacturing jobs.

Now serving on the Board of Directors at the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, Ali brings his deeply personal understanding of the impacts of violence and his professional expertise in public policy and youth advocacy, reflecting an unwavering commitment to fostering positive and enduring change in communities globally. His dedication was notably exemplified in 2015 when he led a national delegation of children’s and youth advocates to the Obama White House, advocating for increased federal workforce development funding and expansion of school-based restorative justice and social-emotional learning.

Ali enjoys spending time with his family, bodyboarding, and being in nature whenever possible, thriving in and drawing energy from his continuous journey toward creating impact.