“Don’t throw people away. Invest in them. Believe in them.
I believe we’re all doing the best we can with what we have…and I want people to have more. More stability, better job opportunities, higher wages, healthier lives, and communities. And I want Cincinnati to have more; more social connectedness, better infrastructure, a stronger and thriving economy, and more housing for ALL citizens.”
Reggie’s Story
…begins as an only child in a large, tight-knit, extended family. They were entrepreneurs who invested in people, and in their communities. His mom braided hair, his grandmother and great-aunt drove an ice cream truck, and his mother’s cousin owned a restaurant. One of his uncles owned a dance studio, another started a real estate development company, and another helped produce the Cha-Cha Slide. They lived, worked, and worshipped in Black communities.
This understanding of community had a deep impact on Reggie. It taught him that, when given a shot and the proper resources, people give you their best. It powered him during his decade-long career as a professional ballet dancer performing with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, and River North Chicago Dance Company. And, it ultimately drove him to leave the dance world to pursue a career in social work, where he could invest in people the way his family did in him.
In 2015, Reggie’s work as a licensed independent clinical social worker brought him to Cincinnati. He settled with his husband in Northside, and following years of leadership and community engagement in his community, he successfully ran for City Council in 2020.
Reggie has since proven himself to be a bold leader and legislative force, consistently guiding Council’s priorities on housing, equality, and empowerment. He currently serves as Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and the Vice-Chair of the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee.
Reggie in the Community
After moving to Cincinnati, Reggie invested heavily in the city that welcomed him with open arms. Before he was elected to Council, he worked as the Director of Community Life for a nonprofit affordable real estate developer, The Community Builders (TCB). While there, he identified, developed, and managed partnerships and programs that supported low-income residents in the areas of health, education, income, and asset building.
He was also appointed in January of 2020 to the Board of Directors for the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and served as the board chair for Equality Ohio, the state’s leading LGBTQ civil rights organization.
From Social Work to Public Office
While he was an educator and social worker, he witnessed his students and clients work tirelessly to improve their lives and circumstances. Despite this work, they were still met with larger systemic barriers that could not be overcome with grit and resilience. This revealed an unfortunate truth: many of the solutions we propose to aid our most vulnerable only address symptoms of larger, systemic issues. His work addressed symptoms of poverty and discrimination.
Understanding the need to address structural and systemic issues in order to truly address the impact of trauma inspired his run for office.
Our campaign’s policy approach is a living and breathing strategy, rooted in Reggie’s core values. We believe in the power of democracy, community representation, art, and expression.
Maybe most important of all, we believe in the power of hope.