Essex County Democrats Appoint New Executive Director: Meet Akeem Cunningham

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The Essex County Democratic Committee has appointed a new executive director: Akeem Cunningham.

The committee – which fuels grassroots operations to elect Democratic candidates at the local, county, state and federal level – said Cunningham, an East Orange native, has a long history of taking on leadership roles that began when he was still in high school.

Despite receiving opportunities to attend nationally recognized preparatory schools, Cunningham chose to remain at East Orange Campus High School, believing he could prove to local young people that they didn’t have to leave home to achieve greatness. That decision culminated in helping lead East Orange Campus High School to a state football championship while becoming one of New Jersey’s top football recruits.

Cunningham’s commitment to East Orange extended well beyond athletics, the committee said.

The following background information comes courtesy of the Essex County Democratic Committee:

“At just 22-years-old, Cunningham ran for East Orange City Council. Although he narrowly fell short, he refused to walk away from public service. Instead, the experience strengthened his resolve to remain engaged, serve his community, and continue building relationships throughout the city.

“Over the years, Cunningham organized free job fairs connecting residents with employment opportunities, hosted annual Single Mothers Appreciation events celebrating women who often go unrecognized, and brought NFL players Rasul Douglas, Dontae Johnson, Earl Wolff, and fellow NC State alumni back to East Orange for free youth football camps, giving local children access to mentors who understood their journey.

“His passion for service led him to the East Orange Fire Department, where he quickly earned a reputation for dedication and compassion. In just his third year on the job, Cunningham was named Firefighter of the Year. He later partnered with Kidde to launch a free smoke detector initiative, helping install life-saving smoke alarms in homes across East Orange.

“Cunningham’s leadership eventually brought him to City Hall, where he served as Deputy Chief of Staff under Mayor Ted R. Green, helping oversee strategic initiatives, constituent services, and community engagement efforts.

“His ability to organize people and connect with communities earned statewide recognition when he was selected to serve as Regional Campaign Director for Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Essex County campaign. There, he created the innovative Youth Get Out The Vote (Y-GOTV) initiative, empowering dozens of high school students to become civic leaders while knocking on more than 55,000 doors across Essex County. The youth-led program became one of the election cycle’s most recognized grassroots organizing efforts and demonstrated the power of investing in the next generation.

“Today, Cunningham also serves as Chief of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and as President of the Urban League of Essex County Young Professionals, continuing to strengthen partnerships between government, community organizations, and residents across New Jersey.

“Now, as Executive Director of the Essex County Democratic Committee, Cunningham brings decades of homegrown experience rooted in service, perseverance, and community engagement.

“His journey—from East Orange student-athlete, firefighter, and city official to county and state leadership—reflects a career built not on shortcuts, but on consistently showing up for the people of East Orange and Essex County.”

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