BACKGROUND, EXPERIENCE, VISION
ABOUT NEHEMIAH
BACKGROUND
Rooted in Resilience
My name is Nehemiah Garley, and I’m running to represent District 38 in the Minnesota Senate. This is where I’ve built my life, raised my children, and spent more than 33 years working, learning, and giving back. This district isn’t just where I live — it’s who I am.
I was born in Liberia and came to Minnesota after fleeing a civil war. I grew up in a middle-class family that taught me the values of hard work, responsibility, and service to others. Like many young people in our community, my path wasn’t perfect. But when I became a father at 21 years old, everything changed. That moment gave me focus and a deep commitment to building a better future for my kids and our community.
In 2006, my wife was murdered by gun violence in Brooklyn Park. In an instant, I became a single parent raising my three children alone. I carried both the weight of grief and the responsibility of giving them a future. I had to learn things I never imagined, like braiding my daughter’s hair before school and church, while ensuring food was on the table and hope in their hearts. Every challenge, every tear, and every small victory taught me resilience. I know firsthand the struggles single families in District 38 face because I have lived them. I have also seen violence forever change the life of one of my closest friends, who survived a shooting but was left paralyzed. These experiences — and those of families around me — fuel my fight to make our neighborhoods safer.
EXPERIENCES
Turning Pain Into Purpose
My personal story is paired with professional training. With a background in homeland security and emergency management, I understand what it takes to prepare for, prevent, and respond to crises. This training shapes my work with families and communities, helping me develop real strategies to reduce violence, confront hate, and build safer neighborhoods.
That’s why I founded Rise Beyond Hate, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing violence, confronting hate, and mentoring youth. In this role, I’ve worked alongside families, schools, and law enforcement to build trust and create practical solutions that make our communities stronger. I don’t just talk about public safety — I’ve lived it, studied it, and committed my life to improving it.
I’ve also served as a foster parent, welcoming children into my home whose families simply lacked the support and resources to stay together. This experience drives me to call for complete foster care reform — one that strengthens families, expands access to mental health care, and provides the supports families need to stay whole.
In addition, my background in business administration and as a small business owner has given me the opportunity to support local entrepreneurs. I know that when small businesses succeed, our entire community grows stronger.
VISION & COMMITMENT
Building Safer, Stronger Communities Together
My commitment to this district goes beyond politics — it’s personal. Today, I serve on the Brooklyn Park Human Rights Commission and the Board of Directors for Chops, which improves lives through music education and the performing arts. These roles keep me grounded at the community level, bridging divides, confronting hate, and building stronger neighborhoods where everyone belongs.
I’ve lived the struggles of this district. As a teenager, I grew up and worked in Brooklyn Park, spent time in Brooklyn Center hanging out and working at the old Brookdale Mall, and worked as a nursing assistant in nursing homes in Osseo and Brooklyn Park. I’ve walked these streets and lived in these apartments. I still have family and friends in the same run-down buildings — mostly in the west district — where too many families struggle today. I know what it feels like when landlords let buildings fall apart while families are left paying the price. That’s why I believe we must hold landlords accountable and fight for safe, affordable housing for every family in District 38.
I’ve lived these challenges and watched my children grow and graduate from Osseo High. I’m not a career politician. I’m a father, a foster parent, a neighbor, and a community leader who has never given up on building a better future for our families.
This is my home. This is my story. I am District 38.