Lola Smallwood-Cuevas is a Democratic member of the California State Senate, representing District 28 in Los Angeles since 2022. This diverse district includes communities such as Ladera Heights, View Park, Crenshaw, Baldwin Hills, South Los Angeles, and West Adams. Raised by a single mother who was a U.S. veteran and registered nurse, she grew up facing economic challenges and has dedicated over two decades to labor organizing, civil rights activism, and community advocacy. She is married with two children and resides in View Park.

Notable achievements include co-founding the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, a nationally recognized model praised by President Barack Obama and Labor Secretary Tom Perez, which trained Black residents for construction jobs and increased their representation in projects like the Metro Crenshaw K Line. She founded the UCLA Labor Center's Center for the Advancement of Racial Equity at Work, led the Justice for Janitors Campaign securing raises and benefits for thousands, and served as Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board. In the Senate, she chairs the Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee, advancing worker protections, affordable housing via SB 572, and the first Historic South LA Black Cultural District. She also serves on key committees like Budget and Fiscal Review, and boards including the California Workforce Development Board.

Education and Political Experience

Smallwood-Cuevas holds a degree from California State University, East Bay . Her early career included journalism at outlets like the Oakland Tribune, Long Beach Press-Telegram, and Chicago Tribune, where she joined the Newspaper Guild.

She began political and community work as a coordinator for SEIU Local 1877, organizing security officers to victories with 40% pay increases and benefits. From 2004 to 2022, she worked at the UCLA Labor Center as project director for 15 years. Elected in 2022 with 59.9% of the vote, endorsed by the Los Angeles Times, she focuses on labor standards, racial equity, green economy jobs, justice reform, and universal healthcare as a Working Families Democrat.