Better. Faster. Smarter. Stronger. Black Women Mayors Lead Three Greater Cleveland Communities

by Montrie Rucker Adams, APR

Photos supplied by Mayors Blackwell, Thomas, and Traore

Black women leaders in government, the community and in corporations are not new. They have always led. We can look to ancient Africa, to our Queens who led empires to see their depth of knowledge, strength, and leadership.

Leadership is in Black women’s DNA. They manage many households, churches (though not always pastors, they take leadership roles in most other areas), and organizations, embodying the qualities of servant leaders. Because many women lead naturally, it’s expected, almost inevitable that they are in roles of power and influence.

Newburgh Heights

Greater Cleveland is fortunate to have three Black women Mayors serving their communities. The Honorable Annette Blackwell (Maple Heights), Kim Thomas (Richmond Heights) and Gigi Traore (Newburgh Heights) have grabbed the reigns and stepped up to lead.

Honorable Annette Blackwell City of Maple Heights

Population 23,322 (2021)

Sworn in January, 2016

“It’s the ministry that we bring. You have a have a heart for people. You have to pray for people and hope that people pray for you. People are broken. They are looking for hope. They are looking for inspiration,” answered Mayor Blackwell when asked, “How your Blackness makes you uniquely suited for this place and this time” at a recent City Club forum.

Taking office in January, 2016, Blackwell has served the longest among the three mayors. She notes that Black women are comfortable leading, often working many jobs to take care of their families and other families in the community. “We’re used to doing everything,” she says.

Unlike many in public service, Blackwell’s journey was through her corporate experiences and local volunteerism. In 2011, Blackwell became a Charter Review Commission Member. One year later she was the Chairperson for the Maple Heights City Schools Levy, later serving as the Maple

Heights City Schools Parent Academy Coordinator which was designed to provide parents with the tools and skills to support students academically, socially, and emotionally.

Encouraged in 2013 by the previous mayor to run for City Council, Blackwell soon realized that continuing and expanding upon public service was essential. Coming from her corporate experience, she had to help “fix what’s broken.” Blackwell says “Maple Heights was broken. We had five people in the service department. They had written Maple Heights off. We were known for being the three Toos: Too dirty. Too dark. Too dangerous.”

Blackwell addressed the fiscal emergency that plagued her city. In addition to other issues like the C-Suite that she created and not having email, “We created a very aggressive public relations campaign to improve the image of our city and to tell our real story…about the great things happening in our city,” mentions Blackwell. Branding Maple Heights included a retractable banner, lapel pin, tablecloths, polos… Speaking “one language,” Blackwell became her city’s most prominent cheerleader saying to all who would listen, “We’re winning.”

The Honorable Kim Thomas City of Richmond Heights Population 10,801 (2020)

Sworn in January, 2022

“Run! Run, run for office! Mayor Thomas emphatically stated when asked her advice to young Black women considering a career in politics or public service. “Do everything you can to get that title of elected official or activist. Women should not only have a seat at the table, but be that table,” she said.

Thomas is the second Black woman elected as Richmond Heights’ Mayor. The first, Miesha Wilson Headen, elected in 2013, the only Black female Mayor at that time, served 10 months. Growing up in inner city Cleveland, Thomas’ mother spoke strength into her. Not fear.

Her journey to leading Richmond Heights began in 2016 after she served as the National Educator for Paul Mitchell Systems. In that role Thomas engaged with salons and barber shops as well as chain account owners such as JC Penney’s. She used those skills when she helped Hillary Clinton run for office, using her close ties and connections to salons around the country. “I took my marketing and sales skills and translated them to the political world. Bringing people together was easy for me,” she said.

Though disappointed when Clinton lost, Thomas vowed to stay engaged in the political process. She was later tapped by Congresswoman Shontel Brown, then Chair of the Cuyahoga Democratic Party, to serve on her leadership team.

Thomas’ first order of business as mayor was to, “make sure our finances were in order.” Thomas previously served for a year and a half on City Council. She knew the issues. “I had to put the right people in place to run the city effectively and efficiently.”

The Honorable Gigi Traore

Village of Newburgh Heights

Population 1,862 (2020)

Sworn in April, 2022

“Now it’s about how we expand on the great work that’s happened over the last 10 years,” said Mayor Traore who was sworn in as Mayor in 2022 when the previous Mayor resigned. “When we talk about Newburgh Heights right now, no one is talking about that incident. We’ve already moved pass that,” she said of the Village’s former Mayor’s controversy.

Traore is Newburgh Heights’ first Black mayor in its 118-year history. “We’ve developed, expanded and become more progressive,” she said and vows to continue that progress.

She never decided on becoming mayor. “It decided on me as cliché as that may sound,” she said. Traore was a computer science major in college where she also studied social work and Black studies. While on Cleveland State University’s campus, she became involved. She joined the Student Government Association, United States Students Association, and earned a People for the American Way Fellowship, which led to her experiences with Young People For, a national long-term leadership development program for college-aged people. It aims to identify, engage, and empower young people who are historically left out of the leadership development pipeline to take action in their community. “I fell into politics. I became a revolutionary, activist, organizer,” she said.

When Traore joined City Council in 2018 (she was the first non-white in their history), she updated Newburgh Heights’ personnel policy to change how the village refers to immigrants. “They had the word ‘alien.’ We will not be referring to whole people as aliens,” mentions Traore whose father is from Nigeria. The CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for National Hair) was also included at the top of the list.

Q&A With the Mayors

What is the most interesting part of being Mayor?

Blackwell:

I was not prepared, nor did I expect to be engaged in the number of social services that are provided to our residents. The City of Maple Heights had a very high Black infant mortality rate that I became aware of in 2016. Today we have more than a 20 percent poverty rate.

Thomas:

The decisions that we make impact lives. Analyzing proposals for how Richmond Heights moves forward. We make tough decisions that are necessary for our families, residents, and business owners.

Traore:

We have to go from theory to practice and have something here that people can take advantage of. We’re a great overflow for Tremont and Ohio City. For example, we have the FLAP student loan assistance program which allows anyone who buys or builds a new home to have up to $50,000 of their student loans forgiven.

What advice do you have for those interested in public service?

Blackwell:

You must give more of yourself to serve people than you will get back. Striving for a work-life balance can seem elusive, because the demands of the job do not observe the end of the work day at 5 pm. There are no days off or observed holidays. You are always on.

Thomas:

Get involved. It’s important to have people serving for the greater good. Pay close attention to what is going on around you.

Don’t be afraid. You can do it. Jump in. Be engaged. Start at the local level. That’s going to impact you, your family, and your community.

Traore:

If you feel compelled, it depends on your why and your purpose. Why are you interested? Once you have that, focus on ‘doing’ and not ‘being.’ People say, ‘I want to be this, I want to be that.’ If you get caught up in being, you will miss what’s important which is ‘doing’ the work.

What gives you joy?

Blackwell:

Family and love. Making a differ- ence; seeing and touching the impact of the administration’s work. Holding, smelling the newborn baby, a full basket of food, invitations to the housewarming, smiles and laughter at the city parks or at a city event.

Thomas: Family. All things related to family…my upbringing, my kids. My Mom served the community. Being a servant leader is in my DNA.

Traore:

I wear my culture and faith proud and loud. My father is from the Ibo tribe and immigrated to America. When I talk about my culture, it’s what led me to be an advocate for Black immigration. My dependency on God keeps me going. This joy that I have, as long as I have joy in God nothing else matters.

The Matriots (pronounced patriots with an “m”) is a nonpartisan Political Action Committee (PAC) dedicated to electing women at local, county, and state levels across Ohio.

It was created in 2017 to elect more women to public office. It supports economic justice for women and addresses the country’s political stalemate.

To gain support, candidates must share five specific Matriot values. They are economic empowerment, equity and independence, dominion over their bodies, access to education, and the ability to live and rear children in a healthy, safe, and prosperous environment.

Though based in Columbus, the organization endorses women throughout the state. The PAC has a multistep endorsement process. In addition to the five values, applicants must answer why they are running, what is their plan to accomplish the five values and what is their plan for success. They must also participate in a 30-minute interview with members in one of the northeast, northwest, southwest, southeast, and central regions.

Once vetted and approved, the candidate’s campaigns are financially supported.