Scholar Profile
Emanuel Yekutiel
Entrepreneurship
Biography
Manny, originally from Los Angeles, earned a B.A. in political science from Williams College. He served as a White House Intern in the Office of Public Engagement and spent 12 months traveling through six countries on a Thomas Watson Fellowship studying LGBT rights movements. Manny returned to the United States as a field organizer for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign. He became chief of staff of FWD.us, an immigrant reform advocacy group, for which he was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in law and policy in 2015. In 2016 Manny built a physical civic gathering space called Manny’s, combining a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, political bookstore, and civic events space to increase civic participation. In its first year Manny’s was awarded Small Business of the Year by the California State Senate and has been featured in the New York Times, Rolling Stone magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. It has served over 55,000 cups of coffee and tea, hosted over 500 civic events for the community, including over 150 local non-profits and 17 of the 2020 democratic presidential candidates. Manny’s has helped 16 formerly homeless or incarcerated individuals graduate from the training kitchen run by the non-profit Farming Hope who now have full time employment.
High school: Harvard-Westlake School
Degrees
| College | Year | Degree |
|---|---|---|
Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA |
2011 | B.A. Political Science, Leadership Studies |
News and Highlights
Big City Moves: Congratulations are in order for Manny Yekutiel, MS ’07, who has been appointed to the seven-person San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Board of Directors. Manny is one of two new members of the board and is the small business owner of Manny’s. The goal of his restaurant, coffee bar, bookstore, and civic gathering space, is to “create a central and affordable place to become a better informed and more involved citizen.” He will continue this goal as a citizen leader helping to address San Francisco’s public transportation needs.
Small Business, Big Impact: Manny’s, the civic gathering place brought to life by Manny Yekutiel, MS ‘07, has been recognized by the California State Senate as the District 11 “Small Business of the Year!” Read more about how Manny’s came to be in our featured article.
It could be the start of a great career in public service. Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ‘07 was elected the president of the freshman class at Williams College in February. Congratulations Mr. Popular!
Soon to be world traveler. Williams Alumni-to-be, Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ’07, is one of 40 liberal arts graduates selected as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow for 2011-12. He will receive a $25,000 grant to research Gay Rights issues around the globe.
Hail the chief. Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ‘07, was elected student body president of Williams College for the 2010 - 2011 school year. Congratulations!
Good Company: Congratulations are due to Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ’07, who was featured in the January issue of Forbes as one of 2015’s 30 Under 30: Law and Policy, for his role as Chief of Staff for FWD.us, the immigration reform group founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates.
Bringing people together, one college student at a time. Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ‘07, is continuing his service on the Williams College student council as its sophomore representative.
Campaign Season: Emanuel Yekutiel, MS ‘07, has secured a paid position in the Obama campaign as one of its New Hampshire field organizers.