School Board Member Jeremiah Grace

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Upon returning home from college, full of knowledge and ready to take on the world, I noticed that my local school district lacked community input on the decisions made for the children. These practices caused the school district's test scores to lower, acts of violence to increase, and parental involvement to decrease. My knowledge from campaigning for others led my decision to build a grassroots movement to fight for a thorough and efficient education for all of the children in my district.

At the age 24, I asked a high school classmate to become my campaign manager. A few of the students I served as a mentor became my street team and through the community groups I participated with over the years, "Jeremiah's Senior Angels," was born. With my street team and "senior angels" we were able to strategically raise money, as well as gain support from elected officials, community leaders and stakeholders. I spoke across the city of Elizabeth about the alarming facts and the need for community input in decision making. Then on April 18, 2006 I broke a ten year stronghold over the largest School Board ran district in the State of New Jersey to become the youngest Commissioner ever elected to the Elizabeth Board of Education.

It has been eighteen months serving on the board and the experience has been like no other. As the lone progressive voice on my board, I have been able to educate the community about what is taking place at every board meeting. Since my election, the community presence at my board meetings has quadrupled, which is inspiring other progressives to run in the future. I look forward to assisting these servant leaders and creating the possibility to belong on a board that will seek to pass progressive policy on education.