Demetrius K. Jifunza has lived in Sarasota/Manatee Counties since 1989. In recent years, he has become involved in several organizations that lend to his passion for helping others. He is the Vice President of the Sarasota County Branch NAACP, a member of the Sarasota Ministerial Association, former Board Chair of CAN Community Health of Sarasota, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, and co-chair of the criminal justice committee for Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity, (SURE). Jifunza is also the former Sarasota Chapter President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an organization committed to ending the disenfranchisement and discrimination against people with convictions. He was a leading advocate and instrumental in the passaging of Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to more than 1 million people in Florida who were previously convicted of felonies. He became involved with the push for Amendment 4 because of its direct impact on him. Due to Jifunza’s efforts, he has been recognized for several awards and has appeared on several national outlets such as HBO, Vice News, the New York Times, PBS News Hour, and POD Save America.

Jifunza has recently completed his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at National Louis University and will continue to pursue his doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision. After 17 years as a subrogation paralegal, Jifunza decided to follow his passion and became a mental health counselor.
Jifunza is the son of Alfreda S. Jackson and Booker T. Jackson and is married to Syreeta B. Smart-Jifunza; and they have three children, Demetrius, Kayden, and Journie.