C. J. Prentiss
C.J. Prentiss | |
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Member of the Ohio Senate from the 21st district | |
In office January 5, 1999 – December 31, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Jeff Johnson |
Succeeded by | Shirley Smith |
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
In office January 3, 1991 – December 31, 1998 | |
Preceded by | Ike Thompson |
Succeeded by | Shirley Smith |
Personal details | |
Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | June 6, 1941
Died | April 2, 2024 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 82)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Michael Charney[1] |
Carolyn Jean Prentiss
Life and career
Born in Cleveland in 1941, Prentiss grew up in an activist family.[2] Her father worked with the Future Outlook League, which was critical in mobilizing the Black community and increasing Black employment. He was assaulted trying to integrate an amusement park during the Euclid Beach Park Riot[3] of 1946. C. J. attended the March on Washington in 1963 along with her mother.
Prentiss earned a bachelor of arts degree and a master's degree in education from Cleveland State University. She held a post-graduate certificate in Administration from Kent State University. She attended the advanced management program at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management.
In 1976, Prentiss was one of the only Black women integrally involved in Ohio’s Cuyahoga Women’s Political Caucus, which at the time was primarily composed of white women. Next, Prentiss became a delegate to the Democratic Convention for Jesse Jackson in 1984,[4] and then became co-chair of the Cleveland Rainbow Coalition.[5]
From 1985 to 1990, Prentiss served on the
Prentiss was on numerous committees and consistently advocated for those most underserved. She spearheaded significant legislation that helped to decrease the Black-white academic achievement gap, she obtained funding for all-day kindergarten and reduced class sizes, and she worked tirelessly to improve education for students of all races. Under her leadership, the NBCSL published Closing the Achievement Gap: Improving Educational Outcomes for African American Children,[7] which helped to put the achievement gap on the national agenda.
Prentiss was also on the founding board of directors for the nonpartisan economic policy group Policy Matters Ohio.[8]
In 2007, she was also chosen to be the Special Education Adviser to Ohio Governor Ted Strickland.
Prentiss appeared on the pilot episode of 30 Days discussing living on minimum wage.
Prentiss was a candidate in the
Prentiss died in Cleveland on April 2, 2024, at the age of 82.[10]
References
- ^ a b "C. J. Prentiss: A Path Maker for Justice". Zinn Education Project. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Pelzer, Jeremy (April 3, 2024). "C.J. Prentiss, longtime Ohio lawmaker and education advocate, dies". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ Rotman, Michael. "Euclid Beach Park Riot". Cleveland Historical. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ^ "African Americans and Presidential Politics". Digital Public Library of America. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ^ "C. J. Prentiss | Ohio Statehouse". Ohiostatehouse.org. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ^ "Closing the Achievement Gap" (PDF). Nepc.colorado.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Policymattersohio.org. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
- ^ "Special Primary Election, 11th Congressional District Voter Turnout". Ohio Secretary of State. 2008-10-14. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- ^ "Former Ohio state senator CJ Prentiss dies". Cleveland Urban News. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2024.