Basheer S. Jones Ward 7

Councilman Jones, 33, was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Cleveland with his family when he was a child. He graduated Cum Laude in 2006 from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga., earning a degree in African-American studies.

Councilman Jones has been recognized nationally for his grass-roots activism relating to issues of social justice and empowering those who are left out of the American Dream. During the 2008 presidential election, Councilman Jones hosted rallies in Cleveland for Barack Obama and organized a youth voter registration drive in the city.

He has received various awards for his work, including the “Emerging Leader” award from U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge and the Urban League’s “Distinguished Men” award. Councilman Jones is a member of the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Councilman Jones was the youngest news talk radio show host when he was on "Basheer Jones and Company" on WERE AM/1490 News Talk Radio and Street Soldiers on WENZ FM/107.9 until 2010. He has also been a guest correspondent on CNN, MSNBC, and CSPAN.

He also authored a book, entitled, “I’ll Speak for Change.” And Councilman Jones is the creator of the Be the Change Leadership Series, in which he holds leadership and character development workshops within various school systems throughout the state of Ohio.

He had first run unsuccessfully for city council in 2013.