Alli Jackson is a lifelong Aurora resident and social worker. She made history in 2025 by winning one of two at-large seats on the Aurora City Council with about 36,800 votes (26.6%). In December 2025 she was sworn in as an at-large Aurora City Council member, beginning a term through 2029. Jackson describes herself as the daughter of a Black veteran and a Russian immigrant, and she emphasizes community-first values in her work. A foster mother and homeowner, Jackson holds a Master of Social Work and bachelor’s degrees (in Psychology and English) from the University of Denver. Before running for office, she worked in Aurora in social services and libraries, served on the city’s Charter Review Board, and engaged with local organizations like the Aurora NAACP.
- Quick facts: Born and raised in Aurora, CO; Aurora Gateway High School graduate; Univ. of Denver (BA ’17, MSW ’18).
- Career: Social worker in metro Denver; advocate for youth and families; longtime community volunteer.
- Political breakthrough: In Nov. 2025, she was elected to the Aurora City Council (At-Large) on a progressive, “community-first” platform.
- Personal: Daughter of a Black veteran father and a Russian immigrant mother. Mother of both biological and foster children.
Early Life and Education
Alli Jackson is an Aurora native who grew up in the city’s diverse communities. As she notes, her mother came from Russia in 1975 and her father is a Black U.S. Army veteran. She attended Aurora public schools (Gateway High School) and excelled at the University of Denver, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology and English in 2017 and a Master of Social Work in 2018. These studies—especially social work—have deeply influenced her focus on mental health, family support, and social justice. (On her campaign website she calls herself a “disrupter and agitator” who channels the ethics of social work – dignity and worth – into public service.)
Jackson has been involved in the Aurora community from a young age. As a teenager she worked part-time in customer service and higher education outreach, and later built a career in social services. She has also worked for Arapahoe County libraries, bringing social programs to library patrons. In addition, Jackson has served on local policy boards: for example, she was appointed to Aurora’s Charter Review Board and to a community development authority (Downtown Development on East Colfax). These roles gave her first-hand experience with city government and civic engagement.
Social Work and Community Advocacy
Jackson’s background as a social worker and community advocate is central to her identity. She’s long focused on helping families, youth, and vulnerable populations. For years she volunteered and worked in Aurora schools and clinics, advocating for mental health resources and anti-poverty programs. She often emphasizes that her work is driven by human dignity: as she told a local reporter, “A lot of the ethics of social work guide me, like dignity and worth of a person just for being a person”.
This perspective shows up in her policy priorities. For example, Jackson supports greater investment in affordable childcare, youth centers, and family social services. She also champions public health initiatives: on her campaign website she highlighted expanding mental health access and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness. Jackson believes in “Housing First” and decriminalizing homelessness, arguing that Aurora should help unhoused residents into shelters or permanent housing rather than penalizing them. She has praised Aurora’s new Regional Navigation Campus (a shelter/“one-stop” center) and wants regular reporting on its outcomes.
Jackson is active in local civic groups. She has been affiliated with the Aurora chapter of the NAACP and with organizations like Colorado Black Women for Political Action. She volunteers at community forums (for example, public meet-the-candidate events held by the Aurora NAACP and youth groups) and has built support among labor and progressive networks. Her campaign in 2025 was endorsed by several key groups – including the Colorado Working Families Party, the Denver-Area Labor Federation, New Era Colorado, and Run for Something – reflecting broad backing from workers and community activists.
2025 City Council Election and Council Role
Alli Jackson ran for one of two at-large seats on the Aurora City Council in 2025. She campaigned on a “Community First” platform focused on making the city government more responsive to ordinary residents, not special interests. Key campaign themes were: welcoming immigrants, supporting families, reforming police oversight, protecting the environment, and expanding affordable housing and jobs. On issues, she promised things like better immigrant onboarding (making Aurora a model for welcoming newcomers), more public restrooms and citywide sanitation, and protecting city workers’ rights and pro-union contracts. She also pledged to ban fracking near Aurora and to use data to safeguard clean air and water.
On Election Day November 4, 2025, Jackson won one of the two at-large seats. She tied with fellow Democrat Rob Andrews (26.6% of the vote each) and narrowly edged out incumbent Danielle Jurinsky and others. Voter turnout was unusually high: Jackson later noted that Aurora saw a “record-breaking turnout” and she celebrated that triumph, saying “when you give people something to believe in, they will show up and vote”. She assumed office on December 1, 2025, joining a 6-4 progressive majority on the council that pledged to shift Aurora’s course.
As a councilmember, Jackson sits “At-Large,” meaning she represents the entire city rather than one ward. Early on, she has already spotlighted issues from her campaign. For example, she thanked labor and LGBTQ+ supporters and urged new public services like more restrooms in parks and curbside trash pickup. She also vowed “proactive engagement with immigrant residents,” reflecting that Aurora is about 21% immigrant by population. In the council press conference after the election, Jackson said she will continue focusing on the causes of homelessness (connecting people to housing and services) and on criminal justice reform. She has already mentioned plans for the coming year, such as developing a nationally-recognized newcomer onboarding program (to help immigrants and new residents navigate city services) and holding student internship programs to bring youth voices into city government.
Jackson’s approach is collaborative. In interviews she emphasized listening to constituents and working with others on council. For instance, she has called for keeping an open dialogue with police and community groups (learning from the Kilyn Lewis case) and even apologized to Lewis’s family on behalf of the city, with plans for a memorial to police violence victims. She has also noted that council debates should be respectful and that all members’ voices – even political rivals – should be heard in good faith.
Policy Priorities and Platform
Alli Jackson ran on three main pillars for Aurora’s future: Economic Growth for All, Families Matter, and Community Wellness. In practice this translates into:
- Economic Growth for All: Supporting small businesses with grants and preventing price-gouging, creating career pathways for students (apprenticeships, internships), and ensuring development benefits residents. Jackson has said Aurora’s economy “should work for everyone” and that city council should champion policies that keep money in the community.
- Families Matter: Expanding affordable childcare, quality youth programs, and family services. As a mother and foster parent, Jackson is especially attuned to challenges facing parents and children. She has pledged to make childcare more affordable, improve after-school and recreation programs, and invest in mental-health support for families. “Our youth are our future,” she says, and families deserve “strong social networks” to thrive.
- Community Wellness: Building safe, healthy neighborhoods. This includes protecting natural spaces and parks, ensuring affordable housing, and reforming public safety. Jackson strongly backs continuing Aurora’s police consent decree (oversight of use-of-force) and creating a community-driven civilian review structure. She advocates for better de-escalation training, non-lethal crisis response teams, and holding officers accountable for excessive force. On housing, she supports rapid development of middle-income units (like townhomes and ADUs) paired with tenant protections, and exploring city-funded affordable housing and stronger zoning for more homes.
In addition to these pillars, Jackson consistently emphasizes inclusion and equity. She promised to keep Aurora welcoming to its large immigrant community, even promoting a Spanish welcome motto “Todos son bienvenidos en Aurora” (“All are welcome in Aurora”) on her site. She also supports labor rights (union contracts for city workers), environmental protection (a local fracking ban), and data-driven accountability in government. For example, she intends to regularize reporting on homelessness services (capacity and outcomes at the Navigation Campus) and set community-defined benchmarks for police reform.
These policy goals are backed by concrete actions. In the months after being elected, Jackson has joined committees and worked with Mayor Mike Coffman’s office on the onboarding program for new residents. She has also repeatedly stated she will act on her campaign promises once the new council convened (for instance, looking at reinstating Aurora’s 2019 “head tax” on large employers to fund housing, as other councilmembers have suggested). While early in her term, she has made it clear that she will push Aurora to invest in workers, families, and marginalized communities, following through on the “people-first” campaign she ran.
Personal Life and Community Roots
Off the council, Alli Jackson is known locally as a dedicated community volunteer and mentor. She stays active in Aurora neighborhoods, attending ward meetings and community events. A self-described “homeowner and mother,” Jackson often talks about her pride in Aurora as a diverse “melting pot” and her desire to reshape the city’s image. She notes that some outside narratives have unfairly “dragged Aurora through the mud,” and she wants to showcase the city’s positives while addressing its problems.
Jackson lives in Aurora with her family and balances her council duties with being a parent. She has spoken openly about the importance of fostering – her family opened their home to foster children, and she has since also had biological children. This personal experience informs her pro-family stance; for instance, she says “as a mother, foster mom, and social worker, I understand firsthand the struggles families face”. In her spare time she continues to engage in activism and writing (her background includes creative writing), and she frequently volunteers at local non-profits and libraries.
Alli Jackson’s story has drawn attention beyond Aurora. Local media dubbed her one of “Five People to Watch in 2026” for Colorado. Commentators note her rise is emblematic of changing politics in Aurora (the city’s council shifted from a conservative majority to a progressive one in 2025). Her narrative – a child of immigrants, city native, social worker and new councilmember – resonates with many voters. Even national outlets have cited her in discussions of urban diversity and policing issues, reflecting her role as a new face of change.
Looking Ahead
Alli Jackson’s first year on the council will be closely watched. She has set an agenda that includes immigrant services, public safety reform, housing, and family support. In public statements she emphasizes listening to all voices and making government responsive: “Your voice matters and our community matters. And together, we can build a city that truly puts Community First,” she said in a campaign message. Now that she’s in office, she aims to turn these words into action.
For residents of Aurora and observers statewide, Jackson represents a “people-first” approach to city government. Her background in social work and community organizing is expected to shape how she votes on budgets and ordinances. Community meetings and local news coverage will show how she brings her campaign promises – from better parks to police accountability – to fruition. Citizens who want to stay informed or get involved might follow Aurora City Council sessions or contact Jackson’s office (she maintains a council member email and active social media) to ask questions and share ideas.
In summary, Alli Jackson is a new Aurora City Council member whose biography reflects Aurora itself: diverse, community-oriented, and focused on inclusion. Her journey from social worker and activist to elected official is marked by concrete accomplishments (degrees, service roles, election victory) and clear goals. As she begins her term, Jackson’s emphasis on unity and equity suggests Aurora will see a continued focus on social services, immigrant support, and growth that benefits all neighborhoods. Residents can watch how she champions her platform – and hold her accountable – as Aurora charts its future.
