Zakiya's Vision
My public service is rooted in three core values: faith, family and freedom.
My faith grounds me and helps me to know that the impossible is possible. I stand on scripture that says all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
My second core value is my family. I am the daughter of Marvin and Veniti, who fell in love on the campus of Thee I Love Jackson State University. I am also the daughter of Leonard Williams, my bonus dad. My family’s legacy continues to inspire me - from my grandfather, William Bill Summers, who took an old rooming house for white people and turned it into one of only two hotels where black folks could lodge when they visited Jackson. Later, it became the home of the Subway Lounge. His entrepreneurial spirit and desire for service coupled with my maternal grandmother Myrtle Collins hard work ethic lives in me. I am blessed to be the mother and nurturer to three beautiful, kind, and intelligent sons and wife to my loving husband.
Lastly are my freedoms. I cherish the freedom to live fully, to vote, to advocate for justice, and to ensure that future generations can thrive. We must remember that the rights we enjoy today were earned through sacrifices — years of injustices and the unwavering spirit of our ancestors. Just 60 years ago, my great grandmother finally was granted the right to vote with the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, walking miles to encourage others to do the same. Today, I proudly stand in the State Capitol, fighting to protect and advance our freedoms.
My core values are not just personal; they are necessary to drive our collective fight for a more perfect union.
As the Mississippi State Representative for House District 68, I’m committed to working on the issues that matter most to our community. I believe in making decisions that will improve the lives of the people I represent, and I’ve always worked toward bringing about change that are both meaningful and lasting. Below are some of the key areas I’m focusing on and how I’m actively fighting for positive outcomes.
What You Need
to Know About
Zakiya’s Stance
on Key Issues
Education & Workforce Development
I’m a firm believer in the power of education to transform lives. That’s why I’m fighting to make sure every child in Mississippi has access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live or how much money they have.
During my first term, I championed the push for computer science curriculum in all public K-12 schools, ensuring that our kids are ready for the future job market. I've also advocated for teacher pay raises, a teacher loan repayment program for new teachers, and increased funding for early learning collaboratives—because investing in our educators and our kids is the foundation of a stronger Mississippi.
But I’m not stopping there. The state’s workforce development programs need to be more effective in preparing adults for the jobs of today and tomorrow. We need policies that empower people to build careers in emerging fields, lifting families out of poverty and strengthening our economy.