Meleika G.

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MELEIKA G.

Meleika GardnerLegislative Advocate | Author | Media Innovator | Community Empowerment LeaderIf you believe media should inform, not mislead, and that policy should protect, not displace, you’re in the right place.I’m the author of Unsafe Black Voice: Exposing Evanston’s Political Machine Inside America’s First Reparations City, a nonfiction book revealing how power, policy, and local politics impact communities and how residents can fight back.I co-authored the Inclusive American History Bill (HB5851) and Pre-Enslavement Black History Bill (HB4954) with State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford. Both passed in 2021, were added to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Agenda, and ensure Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, and women historical figures are included in K–12 curriculum. These weren’t symbolic wins - they were structural steps toward truth in education.I lead advocacy for the Evanston Property Tax Circuit Breaker Program, fighting to provide property tax assistance to seniors and long-term residents on fixed incomes, exposing political roadblocks, and holding city leadership accountable so resources reach those in need.I founded Evanston Live TV and now run Where The People Meet TV, platforms dedicated to legislative accountability, community education, and public action. My work blends media, policy, and grassroots power to challenge systems that silence and uplift communities that are often overlooked.Honors include: Peace Studio Fellowship (2023–2024) and Community Leader Person of the Year, Evanston Chamber of Commerce (2021).Expertise: • Legislative Strategy • Public Policy Communications • Community Engagement • Media Production & Public Narrative • Government Transparency • Event Production & Talent RelationsLet’s connect and build where justice, accountability, and truth meet.