LaTonya Tate

LaTonya A. Tate (born in Birmingham) is a former nurse, retired parole officer, and founder of the Alabama Justice Initiative.

Tate grew up in the North Birmingham community where she currently resides. Her father, the late Clifford Hatcher, a Collegeville native, was a retired cabinet maker in Oxnard, California, and her mother, Barbara J. Tate, worked and retired from the U.S. Postal Service.

Tate attended McArthur Elementary School and graduated from Phillips High School, where she was a member of the Marching Red Raider band. She went on to graduate from the licensed practical nursing program at Bevill State Community College, and from the University of Phoenix where she obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in criminal justice administration and security. She also holds a master's degree from Grand Canyon University in public administration.

Tate worked in health care for over 15 years in Jefferson County, and as a probation and parole officer for the Florida Department of Corrections for another decade before to retiring in 2014. She continues to work as a probation and parole consultant in Alabama. She is an an active member of many social justice organizations, such as Alabamians For Fair Justice and Alabama Forward.

In 2018, Tate founded the Alabama Justice Initiative, a nonprofit social justice organization that works on criminal justice reform and policy initiatives. She also serves on the boards of other organizations.

In 2020 Tate graduated from Emerge Alabama, which trains progressive women to run for public office. She announced her candidacy for Birmingham City Council District 9 in the 2021 Birmingham municipal election.

Tate has one son, TaDarrius, and one granddaughter. She attends 25th Avenue Baptist Church.