Arnold Sowell Jr.

Arnie Sowell is Executive Director of NextGen Policy (NGP), a non-profit organization that works to advance equity and justice across a range of issue areas including climate, workforce development, higher education, food insecurity, and income inequality. Arnie directs the NGP team’s policy development, legislative advocacy, strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and program activities.

Before joining NextGen, Arnie spent two decades in the California State Assembly, serving as Policy Director for five Assembly Speakers, and, over his 30-year career, he has also held various high-level positions in state and local government.  Arnie was honored for his work by the Sacramento Bee’s Equity Lab as one of the Top 20 Black Change Makers in the Capitol Region and has appeared on Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list of professionals influencing change at the State Capitol.

He is an Oregon State University Honors College alum and holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Washington. Arnie serves on the California State Bar Board of Trustees, is an elected member of the Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative, and is a proud father of three and grandfather of two.