Syd Abad

About Syd Abad

Organizer and nonprofit co-founder with experience over the last decade advancing BIPOC and trans liberation. I’ve led field efforts at the local and national levels, electing progressive leaders, expanding housing rights, advocating for trans rights, and driving the implementation of ranked choice voting in Oregon. With a deep commitment to empowering historically marginalized communities, I’ve mobilized grassroots movements and driven sustainable change across diverse campaigns and organizations. Key accomplishments include building student solidarity chapters for worker-student labor rights with United Students Against Sweatshops, leading efforts for Oregon’s Measure 117, and growing a nonprofit from serving 3 to over 80 families in its first two years. My organizing work spans both local and national campaigns, including those for Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Salud Carbajal, Monique Limón, Jonathan Abboud, the Free College for All movement, and the 2020 Georgia Senate Runoff. I’m deeply committed to driving systemic change through political and grassroots organizing, with a focus on centering the most impacted communities in efforts for housing justice, worker power, and BIPOC liberation.

Experience

1. Organizing Strategist

   ACLU

   Jun 2025 — Present

   Working within the ACLU\'s National Political Advocacy Department, leading multi-faceted organizing strategies in response to federal immigration enforcement. Responsibilities include campaign planning, volunteer mobilization, affiliate coordination with the ACLU of Oregon and the ACLU of New Mexico, event execution, story collection, and integrating organizing into broader legal and policy strategies through March 2026 to advance immigrant justice.

Education

• University of California, Santa Cruz

  Bachelor's degree

• Santa Barbara City College

  Associate of Arts - AA

• Dos Pueblos Senior High School

  Diploma