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260:. Known in Columbus as "the highest ranking African-American education lawmaker in the state of Ohio," Prentiss served eight years in the Ohio State House of Representatives (8th district) before serving eight years in the Ohio State Senate (21st district). While in the Ohio State Senate, Prentiss represented constituents of Bratenahl, Brooklyn Heights, Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, East Cleveland, Newburgh Heights and University Heights. She served as minority whip (during the 125th General Assembly), Senate Minority Leader, was the first female president of the
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Born in
Cleveland in 1941, Prentiss grew up in an activist family. 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 of 1946.
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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
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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, and then became co-chair of the
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264:(OLBC), and was the second African-American woman to serve as the Democratic leader in the Ohio Senate (after
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In 2007, she was also chosen to be the
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Prentiss was also on the founding board of directors for the nonpartisan economic policy group
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Closing the
Achievement Gap: Improving Educational Outcomes for African American Children
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improve education for students of all races. Under her leadership, the NBCSL published
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Prentiss earned a bachelor of arts degree and a master's degree in education from
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538:"Special Primary Election, 11th Congressional District Voter Turnout"
357:"C.J. Prentiss, longtime Ohio lawmaker and education advocate, dies"
276:, which helped to put the achievement gap on the national agenda.
205:(June 6, 1941 – April 2, 2024) was an American politician of the
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Prentiss died in
Cleveland on April 2, 2024, at the age of 82.
237:. She held a post-graduate certificate in Administration from
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in the 110th
Congress but withdrew before the Primary.
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241:. She attended the advanced management program at
637:20th-century African-American women politicians
632:21st-century African-American women politicians
404:"African Americans and Presidential Politics"
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672:Members of the Ohio House of Representatives
567:"Former Ohio state senator CJ Prentiss dies"
107:January 3, 1991 – December 31, 1998
60:January 5, 1999 – December 31, 2006
596:Profile on the Ohio Ladies' Gallery website
627:African-American state legislators in Ohio
334:"C. J. Prentiss: A Path Maker for Justice"
289:Prentiss appeared on the pilot episode of
256:From 1985 to 1990, Prentiss served on the
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687:21st-century African-American politicians
92:Ohio House of Representatives
682:21st-century American women politicians
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213:from 1999 until 2007. During the 126th
652:Case Western Reserve University alumni
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429:"CLEVELAND SPARKS JACKSON CAMPAIGN"
463:"C. J. Prentiss | Ohio Statehouse"
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677:21st-century American legislators
647:Cleveland State University alumni
408:Digital Public Library of America
217:, she served as Minority Leader.
355:Pelzer, Jeremy (April 3, 2024).
302:Prentiss was a candidate in the
247:Weatherhead School of Management
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667:Women state legislators in Ohio
243:Case Western Reserve University
230:in 1963 along with her mother.
16:American politician (1941–2024)
603:by Amy Hanauer (Cleveland.com)
427:Boyd, Gerald M. (1984-04-16).
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487:"Closing the Achievement Gap"
262:Ohio Legislative Black Caucus
258:Ohio State Board of Education
253:Cleveland Rainbow Coalition.
662:Kent State University alumni
544:. 2008-10-14. Archived from
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657:Politicians from Cleveland
601:Remembering C. J. Prentiss
235:Cleveland State University
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380:"Euclid Beach Park Riot"
336:. Zinn Education Project
209:party who served in the
542:Ohio Secretary of State
49:from the 21st district
518:Policymattersohio.org
308:Stephanie Tubbs-Jones
295:discussing living on
239:Kent State University
215:Ohio General Assembly
203:Carolyn Jean Prentiss
174:Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
96:from the 8th district
571:Cleveland Urban News
514:"Board of Directors"
384:Cleveland Historical
642:Ohio state senators
281:Policy Matters Ohio
228:March on Washington
226:C. J. attended the
467:Ohiostatehouse.org
434:The New York Times
494:Nepc.colorado.edu
378:Rotman, Michael.
211:Ohio State Senate
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575:. Retrieved
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546:the original
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170:(2024-04-02)
155:June 6, 1941
125:Succeeded by
118:Ike Thompson
102:
78:Succeeded by
71:Jeff Johnson
55:
622:2024 deaths
617:1941 births
340:January 18,
306:to replace
266:Rhine McLIn
113:Preceded by
66:Preceded by
45:Ohio Senate
611:Categories
552:2008-10-16
523:2017-07-18
499:2022-07-17
472:2022-07-06
448:2022-07-06
413:2022-07-06
389:2022-07-06
317:References
207:Democratic
183:Democratic
151:1941-06-06
443:0362-4331
103:In office
56:In office
363:April 3,
577:3 April
292:30 Days
441:
189:Spouse
160:, U.S.
490:(PDF)
579:2024
439:ISSN
365:2024
342:2024
165:Died
145:Born
268:).
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
