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Will Jawando is an American politician and author who has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018. He is also a former basketball player and has played the sport with President Barack Obama on several occasions. Jawando attended the Catholic University of America, where he earned a B.A. in sociology and a J.D. degree. He first became involved in politics as a student at the university and has since run for various political offices, including the Maryland House of Delegates in District 20 and the United States House of Representatives in Maryland's 8th congressional district. In 2023, Jawando started his own political action committee, Will of the People PAC, and announced his candidacy for the United States Senate in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Opeyemi Jawando |
| Date of Birth | 2 January 1983 |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Biracial |
| Mother | Kathleen Gross (white, from Kansas) |
| Father | Olayinka Jawando (Nigerian) |
| Education | B.A. in Sociology, J.D. (Catholic University of America) |
| Profession | Politician, Attorney, Author |
| Political Affiliation | Democratic Party |
| Political Experience | White House Associate Director of Public Engagement, Montgomery County Council Member, Congressional Candidate |
| Notable Mentors | President Barack Obama, Wayne Holmes, Deen Sanwoola, Mr. Williams, Jay Fletcher |
| Notable Works | My Seven Black Fathers |
| Sports | Basketball |
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What You'll Learn
- Will Jawando's basketball influence, Kalfani, was killed in an act of gun violence
- Jawando played basketball with President Obama when he worked in the office of public engagement
- Jawando attended St. Johns' College High School and Catholic University, where he played basketball
- Jawando wrote a book, 'My Seven Black Fathers', which includes his mentors and his journey to becoming a civil rights attorney
- Jawando is a politician who has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018
Will Jawando's basketball influence, Kalfani, was killed in an act of gun violence
William Opeyemi Jawando, born in 1983, is an American politician and author. He has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018. Jawando's autobiography, 'My Seven Black Fathers', was published in May 2022. The book follows his early life and career, with each chapter describing each of his "fathers", or mentors.
One of these mentors was Kalfani, a boy Jawando met on the basketball court in fifth grade. Kalfani was a natural-born leader, and Jawando looked up to him. Kalfani's friendship and basketball granted Jawando a sense of belonging and acceptance. Unfortunately, years later, Jawando received a call informing him that Kalfani had been killed in an act of gun violence.
In his book, Jawando reflects on the extraordinary series of mentors who enabled him to thrive, including Kalfani, Mr. Williams, Jay Fletcher, Wayne Holmes, Deen Sanwoola, and President Barack Obama. These individuals helped Jawando in various ways, from bolstering his self-esteem to helping him reconcile with his Nigerian heritage. Without their influence, Jawando believes he would not be who he is today.
Kalfani's death is a tragic reminder of the impact of gun violence and the importance of mentorship in shaping young lives. Jawando's book offers a transformative way for Black men to shape the next generation and counter racist ideas and policies. It speaks to the potential for healing within communities and the power of mentorship in fostering hope and respect for men of colour.
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Jawando played basketball with President Obama when he worked in the office of public engagement
William Opeyemi Jawando, also known as Will Jawando, is an American politician and author. He has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018. Jawando was a former basketball player at St. Johns' College High School and Catholic University. He played basketball with President Obama when he worked in the office of public engagement in 2010.
Jawando was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on 2 January 1983. He is biracial, with a white mother from Kansas and a Nigerian father. His parents divorced when he was six years old. As a child, he never quite fit in at school and was scolded by teachers for being disruptive. He eventually found a friend in Kalfani, a fellow student he looked up to on the basketball court. Sadly, Kalfani later became a casualty of gun violence.
Jawando's early life was influenced by several mentors who helped shape his future. One of these mentors was President Barack Obama, who appointed him as the White House associate director of public engagement. Jawando played basketball with President Obama on multiple occasions. In his book, "My Seven Black Fathers", Jawando acknowledges the significant impact of these men in his life, including President Obama. He writes, "Without the influence of these men, I would not be who I am today".
In addition to his political career, Jawando has also been involved in various initiatives and protests advocating for civil rights, education policy, and tenant protections. He has also co-authored a letter criticising the vaccine rollout in Maryland, which disproportionately impacted people of colour and low-wage residents.
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Jawando attended St. Johns' College High School and Catholic University, where he played basketball
Will Jawando is an American politician and author who has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018. He was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, and grew up outside of Washington, D.C. Jawando attended St. Johns College High School, where he played basketball and looked up to a fellow player named Kalfani. Unfortunately, Kalfani later became a casualty of gun violence.
After high school, Jawando went on to attend the Catholic University of America, where he earned a B.A. in sociology in 2004 and a J.D. degree in 2007. He first became involved in politics as a student at Catholic University, where he made an effort to establish a campus NAACP chapter. This was resisted by the school due to the organization's stance on abortion.
Jawando's memoir, 'My Seven Black Fathers', details his early life and career, with each chapter dedicated to one of the seven mentors who helped shape his life. One of these mentors was President Barack Obama, who invited Jawando to play basketball on several occasions and made him his associate director of public engagement at the White House.
In addition to his political career, Jawando has also co-authored a book and run for various political offices, including the Maryland House of Delegates in 2014 and the United States House of Representatives in 2015. He has been described as a progressive and has supported initiatives such as Medicare for All and universal preschool.
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Jawando wrote a book, 'My Seven Black Fathers', which includes his mentors and his journey to becoming a civil rights attorney
William Opeyemi Jawando, also known as Will Jawando, is an American politician and author. He was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, on January 2, 1983, to a white mother from Kansas and a Nigerian father. Jawando's parents divorced when he was six years old, and he grew up outside of Washington, D.C., with a strained relationship with his biological father.
In his youth, Jawando, who went by his Nigerian name, Yemi, struggled to fit in at school and was often scolded for being disruptive. However, he eventually found a friend in Kalfani, a fellow student he looked up to on the basketball court. Unfortunately, Kalfani later became another casualty of gun violence. Despite these challenges, Jawando excelled academically, earning a B.A. in sociology and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America. He first became involved in politics as a student, advocating for the establishment of a campus NAACP chapter.
Jawando's political career has been marked by a commitment to progressive values and a focus on issues affecting communities of color. He served as the White House Associate Director of Public Engagement under the Obama administration in 2010 and later became a council member in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2018. In this role, he has advocated for initiatives such as vaccine mandates, eviction protections, and the extension of COVID-19 renter relief.
In addition to his political career, Jawando is also an author. He wrote the book "My Seven Black Fathers: A Young Activist's Memoir of Race, Family, and the Mentors Who Made Him Whole." The book, published in May 2022, explores Jawando's early life and career, with each chapter dedicated to one of the seven mentors or "fathers" who profoundly influenced him. These include Mr. Williams, his math teacher who boosted his self-esteem; Jay Fletcher, his mother's openly gay colleague who introduced him to art and culture; Wayne Holmes, a high school coach and chorus director who provided support during a difficult time; and Deen Sanwoola, a businessman who helped him connect with his Nigerian heritage and facilitated a reconciliation with his biological father.
Through his book, Jawando challenges the stereotype of the absent Black father, arguing that Black men can play a transformative role in the lives of Black boys and counter racist ideas and policies by being present and serving as mentors. The book received praise from reviewers and authors like Ibram X. Kendi, who highlighted its urgent message and the importance of hearing Jawando's story.
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Jawando is a politician who has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018
William Opeyemi Jawando, born on January 2, 1983, in Silver Spring, Maryland, is an American politician and author. He has served as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council since 2018. Jawando is the son of a white mother from Kansas, Kathleen Gross, and a Nigerian father, Olayinka Jawando. His parents divorced when he was six years old.
Jawando attended the Catholic University of America, where he earned a B.A. in sociology in 2004 and a J.D. degree in 2007. He first became involved in politics as a student at the university, where he made an effort to establish a campus NAACP chapter. In 2014, Jawando ran for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 20. Although he lost the Democratic primary, placing fourth with 15.1% of the vote, he soon joined Governor Martin O'Malley's political action committee as a senior advisor.
In April 2015, Jawando announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives in Maryland's 8th congressional district. During the primary, he received endorsements from members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus. However, he was defeated in the Democratic primary by state senator Jamie Raskin, placing fifth with 4.6% of the vote. In September 2017, Jawando announced his candidacy for the Montgomery County Council at-large. He won the 34-way Democratic primary and the general election, becoming the second Black lawmaker elected countywide in Montgomery County when he was sworn in on December 3, 2018.
Jawando has been a vocal advocate for various causes during his time on the Council. In March 2021, he co-signed a letter criticizing Governor Larry Hogan's administration for its vaccine rollout, which was alleged to disproportionately impact people of colour and low-wage residents. He has also supported proposals to protect tenants, such as extending the COVID-19 Renter Relief Act and limiting rent increases. During the George Floyd protests, Jawando expressed support for the "defund the police" movement but later clarified that he does not support defunding the police.
In addition to his political career, Jawando is also an author. In May 2022, he published his autobiography, "My Seven Black Fathers," which tells the story of his early life and career, with each chapter dedicated to the mentors he calls his "fathers." The book has been praised for offering a transformative way for Black men to shape the next generation.
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Frequently asked questions
William Opeyemi Jawando.
Jawando is an American politician and author.
Yes, Jawando played basketball at St. Johns' College High School and Catholic University.
Yes, Jawando wrote the book 'My Seven Black Fathers'.
Jawando served as the White House associate director of public engagement.
