National Convening Program Books 2016 YEO National Convening Program Book | Page 49

YEO NATIONAL CONVENING 2016

EDMUND FORD City Councilman
Memphis, Tennessee

Councilman Edmund Ford, Jr. was elected to the Memphis City Council as the District 6
representative in November 2007, making him the youngest African American ever to be elected
to the council at the age of 28. Dr. Ford recently served as the 2013 Memphis City Council
Chairman. He is currently a mathematics teacher at Memphis Central High School where he
graduated in 1996 at the age of 16. Dr. Ford’s recent accomplishments include serving as an
advisory board member of the Tennessee Renewable Energy and Economic Development Council
(TREEDC), alternate director for the Tennessee Municipal League’s 8th District, 2011 Memphis
Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40, and 2013 Tri-State Defender’s 50 Men of Excellence.
Councilman Ford, Jr. has earned a doctoral degree from Tennessee State University in higher
education administration and supervision.

JAMAL FOX City Councilman
Greensboro, North Carolina

In 2013, Jamal Fox became the youngest person ever to be elected to the Greensboro City
Council. He has a clear vision for his community and works diligently to assist in meeting the
city’s mission by working to achieve economic wealth and developing opportunities that empower
the community. Fox received a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina A&T
State University and masters of public administration from Capella University. Fox is a founding
member of the National African American Drug Policy Coalition, a member of Citizens for
Economic and Environmental Justice, as well as other civic involvement programs. Fox serves
as a council liaison of Greensboro College Commission and is the chair of the Minority Affairs
Caucus of North Carolina for his political party. Fox’s philosophy is to always believe in yourself,
your dreams, and to always strive to make a difference in the lives of others. @JamalFoxGSO

JOSH FRYDAY City Councilman
Novato, California

Josh Fryday and his brother grew up in Novato. He has a great appreciation for the opportunities
he received, and basic values he learned, over the course of his childhood. So after law school
and a tour in the Navy, Josh and his wife came home to raise their own young boys in Novato.
Fryday is now the chief operating officer of NextGen Climate, a national organization promoting
clean energy jobs, a growing economy, and a sustainable future. Fryday previously served as a
Lieutenant in the United States Navy as a member of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He
is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the UC Berkeley School of Law, and clerked in the United
States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the San Francisco District
Attorney’s Office. Fryday lives in Hamilton with his wife, a teacher, and their two boys.

YEO BIOS

47