Cyril Jefferson
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Cyril Jefferson | |
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Born | Utica, New York | April 9, 1992
Nationality | American |
Occupation |
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Cyril Jefferson (born April 9, 1992) is an American Businessman and Politician who is the 38th and current Mayor of High Point, North Carolina.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Jefferson won the November 2023 election for mayor and was sworn in on December 4, 2023 as the first Black man to serve in the position in the city's history.[2] He previously served as a member of the High Point City Council, elected in November 2019 to represent the residents of High Point's 1st Ward.[3] He is also the Founder & Principal of Change Often-Social Innovation Firm[4].[5]
Early Life and Education
Jefferson was born in Utica, New York[3] and moved to the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina where he attended T.W. Andrews High School in High Point, North Carolina.[6] He studied at Howard University and High Point University before graduating from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies.[7] Jefferson's post-graduate studies include the Hunt State Policy Fellows program[8] offered by the Hunt Institute[9]—an Affiliate of Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy[10]—and the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative—a program of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University.[11]
Career
Early Career
Prior to founding Change Often or beginning a career in politics, Jefferson worked in various roles within the education and nonprofit sectors. Jefferson's teaching career includes spending 7 years on staff with the band program at his alma mater, T.W. Andrews High School, where he taught the drumline and led fundraising efforts for the band boosters,[12] working as an Adjunct Instructor for Adult Education at Guilford Technical Community College,[13] and supporting the local Guilford County Schools district as a Substitute Teacher. His work for the local Communities In Schools affiliate includes being an operations intern, youth development contractor, and student support specialist (site coordinator).[6]
Social Innovation Consultant
Since founding the company in 2018, Jefferson leads the Firm's Innovation BrainTrust in solving social and economic challenges through collaborative solutions and comprehensive capacity building services. Working in spaces where the bottom line prioritizes "lives saved over dollars made," the Change Often team helps bring to life the ideas that impact our world for the good and has partnered to invest more than $22M in impact initiatives for causes related to small business support, poverty alleviation, and education.[14] Most notably, Jefferson's team spearheaded the creation of Thrive High Point[15][16]—a minority entrepreneurship—which has supported more than 600 entrepreneurs and invested a quarter-million dollars in micro grants for program participants.[17] Several community leaders credit the Change Often team for being able to design and implement successful impact solutions.[18]
Politics & Public Office
Since being elected to public office, Jefferson has worked on issues that are important to the revitalization of High PointAs City Councilman==== As a city council member (December 2019 to November 2023), Jefferson helped bring the Carolina Core FC soccer team to the region, attracting millions in private investment.[19] He led fundraising efforts to renovate Jazz Legend John Coltrane's childhood home which resides in the Ward One area of High Point.[20] He championed DEI-related reforms within City Hall, resulting in fairer hiring practices, leadership development for employees of color, and expanded supplier diversity efforts.[21] Additionally, he proposed a rebranding effort that shifted the city's focus toward equity, engagement, and leveraging its arts and design legacy to bolster economic development.[22]
2023 Mayoral Campaign
Jefferson announced his run for High Point mayor in November 2022.[23] In the primary election, held on October 10, 2023, Jefferson emerged as the top vote-getter, securing 49% of the vote, setting him up for a general election competition with fellow city council member, Victor Jones, who received 34% of the primary election vote.[24] The two candidates faced off in the general election, held on November 7, 2023, and Jefferson emerged victorious, winning with nearly a 12-point margin as he secured 55.6% of the vote. Upon swearing in, Jefferson would become the youngest mayor of High Point in the modern era, if not ever, and the second Black mayor in the city's history, following Bernita Sims, who was elected in 2012.[25]
Jefferson’s plan for the beginning of his term was to prioritize a focus “on job growth, improving housing options, and helping the community unite around common goals.”[26]
Platform
As a candidate for Mayor, Jefferson's platform focused on prosperity, livability, and safety. He aimed to raise funds for programs benefiting entrepreneurs and collaborating with the Economic Development Corporation to attract companies, contributing to North Carolina's top ranking in job growth. Efforts in workforce development were designed to address labor shortages and prepare for future needs.
To enhance livability, Jefferson prioritized investments in "Complete Streets" for safe mobility, expanded public transportation, and ensured adequate, quality housing that supported fair housing policies. Infrastructure improvements were planned to reduce urban sprawl and meet public safety needs.
For safety, he supported education, youth mentorship, gang intervention, workforce development, and mental health initiatives. Strategies to remove illegal guns were intended to decrease violent crime. Collaboration with the High Point Police Department focused on community engagement and culturally-sensitive de-escalation methods, improving relationships between law enforcement and neighborhoods.[27]
As Mayor
During his tenure, Mayor Jefferson has led efforts to bolster transparency and engagement in local government by improving public meeting access through live video streaming.[28] The City has also completed its 2045 Comprehensive Plan to guide future development with a focus on equitable neighborhood revitalization and sustainability.[29] After being defeated under the previous administration, Mayor Jefferson worked with the rest of the High Point City Council to adopt a fair housing ordinance to combat housing discrimination.[30] Under Jefferson's leadership, the National Civic League has named the City of High Point a 2024 All-America City Award winner due to "transformative, community-driven efforts to strengthen democracy through local action and innovation, showcasing the strength of its civic infrastructure – the network of relationships, partnerships and capacities driving effective decision-making and problem-solving."[31] Mayor Jefferson's involvement in national advocacy organizations such as the Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger[32][33] and Mayors Against Illegal Guns[34] underscores his commitment to addressing broader social issues.
Personal Life
Mayor Jefferson is married to his wife, Raven. They have two sons, Cyril II and Royce.[35]
References
- ↑ "City Council | High Point, NC".
- ↑ McNeely, Connor (2023-11-08). "Jefferson first Black man in High Point history to be elected as mayor". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cyril Jefferson". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Home". www.changeoftenllc.com.
- ↑ "Cyril Jefferson :: Founder and Principal Consultant". www.changeoftenllc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 McNeill, Neill (January 31, 2024). "High Point's new mayor focuses on engagement, equity". My Fox 8. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "CIS Alumnus Cyril Jefferson: Making History and Leading a Community". www.communitiesinschools.org. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Whitman, Hutch (2023-06-19). "Hunt Institute announces third cohort of Hunt State Policy Fellows". EducationNC. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "The Hunt Institute · Public Education Policy Initiatives and Legislation". The Hunt Institute.
- ↑ "The Hunt Institute · Public Education Policy Initiatives and Legislation". The Hunt Institute. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative Announces Eighth Class of Mayors to Receive Executive Education Training". Bloomberg Center for Cities. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Ray, Hannah (2020-01-23). "Best in the Biz: Change Often". High Point Discovered. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Guilford Technical Community College | GTCC (2024-05-31). GTCC High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson Highlight. Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Home". www.changeoftenllc.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Thrive High Point 2.0 | Business High Point".
- ↑ Ray, Hannah (2021-11-03). "Welcome Thrive High Point!". High Point Discovered. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Business High Point names leader for Thrive, supporting minority- and women-owned businesses". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Cyril Jefferson (2024-08-04). Change Often: A Social Innovation Firm. Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Spencer, Sam. "Creating Core Memories: Pro Soccer Arrives in the Piedmont Triad". www.soccersheet.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ STAFF, ENTERPRISE (2020-10-21). "Board OKs landmark status for Coltrane's childhood home". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "City considers 'disparity study'". www.yahoo.com. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Cyril Jefferson (2024-05-26). High Point is a Year-Round Destination for Design | Mayor Cyril Jefferson. Retrieved 2024-08-04 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2022-11-24). "Jefferson to make bid for mayor". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2023-10-10). "Jefferson, Jones advance in mayor's race". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2023-11-07). "Jefferson wins mayor's race". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Notable Black Mayors Who Should Be On Your Radar". NewsOne. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Elect Cyril Jefferson - Home". www.electcyriljefferson.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2024-04-03). "Council OKs video meetings". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2024-05-08). "Council adopts 2045 comp plan". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Kimbrough, Pat (2024-02-20). "City OKs fair housing ordinance". High Point Enterprise. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ Yost, Scott D. (2024-06-10). "City Of High Point Brings Home The All-America City Award". The Rhino Times of Greensboro. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ https://mayorshungeralliance.org/
- ↑ "Cyril Jefferson". Mayors Alliance. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "Who We Are". Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
- ↑ "About Cyril". www.electcyriljefferson.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
External links
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