Leaning Deeper into Liberation: An Interview with Deputy Director Akoth Ombaka

In early November, our communications manager Amy and deputy director Akoth Ombaka leaned into a cozy conversation about trans liberation, uplifting Black trans women & femmes, and their mutual love for cats. The following magic resulted, and we hope you love it as much we did.

Akoth, could you tell us a little bit more about yourself? What pointed you in the direction of the life that you've been leading? 

Akoth: Well, I started my professional career as an organizer. I was in Portland, Oregon, which is very, very white, and was canvassing for the legalization of marijuana with a focus on the decriminalization of Black and brown people as well as the drivers card which promoted driving for everybody in the state, with a focus on supporting immigrants who couldn't get driving documentation. The way the organization I was working at was set up, was very outcome based, meaning come back with 6,000 voter registration cards, regardless of who you're talking to, what the conversations are about, what's coming up in the community. That led me to ask just a lot of questions around who determines what organizers do. Where does that come from? What's the motivation behind it? I guess all of the questions I was asking were slightly annoying, but amusing to my boss. So they introduced me to our national branch and said, “these are the people who you can ask the questions about all of these things.” I had an enlightening conversation about funding systems but essentially realized that the curiosity I had was around “systems”.

That's how I got into the field of operations—by asking questions. When I look back, it's very amusing right now, because here's this little non binary kiddo straight out of college, got their first operations job at a national non-profit and was filing 990s in a foreign country - because I wasn't a citizen at that point in time.

But that's what led me to the career that I am in: asking a lot of questions and leading with a lot of curiosity about how systems get to being, how they are,` and to translate working with accountants, who speak a really jargony type of language. It is really important for me to de-jargonize language to make it super accessible for folks, and to find out if we are doing systems for the sake of doing systems or are they actually working for us? And are they equitable? What values do they uphold?

What about LRP hit your heart?

Akoth: At all of the organizations that I've worked at, I've tried to have some relation to my personal values—and that has been a search. I've been looking for one that can fully encompass me as a human being and not have to dichotomize every single identity, which has been my professional journey unfortunately. I started in a civic engagement field, wanting to see if that could cut across the board, and realized that it didn't really involve any immigrants. I was registering voters, and I couldn't even vote. A majority of the issues—electoral issues—were not fully capturing immigration issues.

So I decided to move to an immigration law firm that was serving predominantly Latine communities, but not Black communities. So I felt isolated. Eventually, I decided to move to a foundation that did Black liberation work, and I thought, “Maybe we can see how this works out." But it was too far removed from the work, and once again, I felt very isolated. And even then, that foundation, like many nonprofits right now, was struggling with incorporating decolonial and trans-affirming standards and practices.

So it was really, really important for me to find a trans/gender non-conforming affirming organization to work at, because that is a single identity which I have not been able to just fully live in by values, both professional, personal across the board. This is what drove me to LRP.  Why not support this phenomenal Black trans woman who is leading this organization through groundbreaking stuff? Why not join forces with an incredible team, doing the work, and support that mission? There was no doubt this was for me.

You mentioned LRP's values and work is really important to you. Could we talk more about that? 

Akoth: In a year where we've had practically a genocide of Black trans women, it's just so weird for me to live without that fact in organizing and how you're moving the work through all of that. And just the focus of LRP to address this issue feels like the only way to be. And not every organization is doing it. So organizations realized it in early March last year, I want to say, and then everyone forgot about it. That was really painful for me to live through. Me being a part of LRP almost feels like a lifeline for me, to at least impart a smidge of organizing and focus into this much needed work. And to be around folks who understand the weight of carrying around this genocide that's visible but invisible at the same time.

What does a world look like where Black gender diverse people, and especially Black trans women, are truly free?

Akoth: Oh my gosh. It's a safe world. It's a safe world. Less funerals, more joyous celebrations. I… just imagine going back to a pre-colonial period where Trans people are like Gods, spiritually. Where if you come out as trans,  It is revered and honored. Or better yet, you don't need to come out as trans. You are already as trans as every other trans person out there. There is no performance needed to validate transness. I imagine access to good support systems, medically, spiritually, and holistically.  I envision a lot of laughter, warmth, coziness, and long, long life.

How do we get there?

Akoth: That is the hard part. A lot of cishets need to do the work. Trans folks are out here getting it done and the people who need to be doing the work aren’t. Instead, they're constantly providing barriers that don't need to be there—simply because of their defenses, simply because of fear, simply because of heteronormative, patriarchal, colonialism standards. All of that needs to be abolished.

I think this is where we need to join solidarity in a lot of the oppressions and the ‘isms in the works, so it's not alone. It's hard for me to not see all the barriers when we look housing, when we look at medical care, and when we look at immigration–which is a big one. There's a lot of people who are fighting persecution simply because of who they are and trying to find a space where they can live. That is literally why I immigrated to the U.S. because it is nearly impossible to navigate life in Kenya when you are trans/non binary. In every single sector, there's atrocious systems in place, and so the barriers that I'm talking about within those intersections need to be removed. There's a lot of work that needs to be done and we need to be well enough to do it.

What does it mean to uplift and center Black trans women and femmes?

Akoth: For one, I don't want to say including them at tables, but really: make a damn table for Black trans women and femmes. That's the bare minimum. You cannot say that you are centering Black women and femmes when there are no Black women and femmes in your organizing, in your social circle, in your sphere. That, to me, is performative. And inclusion doesn't always get there because then you're faced with, again, those systemic oppressions that are circulating there. So you need a whole table for Black trans women and femme addressing those needs because when you start there, we all benefit.

Is there anything else you'd like the readers of the blog to know or think about?

Akoth: Just that all folks should stay curious in finding authentic ways of being, and keep elevating and amplifying the work and voices of Black trans women and femmes. It's also essential to be in community with people who support, care and affirm your personal values.

Akoth Ombaka (they/them) brings a nuanced operations background having worked at various non profits ranging from fiscal sponsors, foundations, to law firms. They are keen on exploring and implementing administrative systems that can authentically embody equitable frameworks and drive towards transformative justice. Akoth feels the most joyful when reading afrofuturism literature, hanging out with loved ones, petting their cat, nerding out on excel spreadsheets, and choral music.