Michael D. Tubbs

Michael D. Tubbs is probably best known as the former mayor of the city of Stockton, where he led the city to a 40 percent drop in homicides and a decrease in police shootings--work that was recognized in the HBO Documentary “Stockton on My Mind.” In addition to addressing crime, Tubbs also made progress in the education system, raising more than $20 million to create a scholarship and mentoring program, Stockton Scholars. It's no surprise, then, that Tubbs now serves as special adviser for economic mobility and opportunity for Governor Gavin Newsom of California. In 2022, Tubbs founded the nonprofit organization End Poverty In California (EPIC), where he works to help create policies that address the root issues of poverty in the state, from pollution to community violence. Tubbs also published his memoir, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home this year. For all these efforts and more, Tubbs has been recognized on Fortune’s Top 40 under 40 list and received a 2021 Civic Leadership Award from The King Center.