Iola Washington, a Liberian American, was born on January 1, 1984, in Liberia. After relocating as a Liberian Refugee from Ghana to the USA with her children, she dedicated herself to setting a positive example for her family by pursuing education. Initially working as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) in Nurse Homes, she decided to further her education. While working as a CNA, she obtained certificates as a Medical Assistant, an Associate of Science Degree in Healthcare Office Administration, and is currently on the verge of graduating from SUNY Empire College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Community and Human Service.

Balancing the roles of a single parent, student, and professional, she devoted herself to raising her children while juggling school and work responsibilities. As her children grew older, she increasingly engaged with her community, dedicating over 12 years to organizations supporting immigrants and minority communities.

Since 2020, as a member of the Staten Island Immigrant Council, Iola collaborated with the Office of Immigrant Affairs to provide city ID cards to undocumented immigrants and champion immigrants’ rights. She raised awareness about the Liberians Refugee Immigration Fairness Act and distributed over 10,000 Covid-19 tests and masks during the pandemic.

Passionate about fostering unity among communities and empowering the vulnerable, Iola has achieved significant milestones. Notably, she became the first African elected as the New York State Female Committee member for the 61st Assembly District in the Democratic Party of New York. Additionally, she co-founded and serves as a board member of ACASI, co-founded and serves as secretary for African Heritage Festivals, and previously served as a board member for SILCA (Staten Island Liberian Community Association)