Valarie McCall facts for kids

Valarie McCall, born Valarie J. McCall, is the Chief of Communications, Government & International Affairs for the City of Cleveland, Ohio. She is perhaps best known for being the youngest City Clerk and Clerk of Council in the history of the city of Cleveland.

Early life

McCall was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She grew up in the Glenville neighborhood. She was raised by her grandmother on E. 105th St.

McCall initially envisioned a life in law, and attended the Martin Luther King Law and Public Service Magnet High School in the Hough neighborhood.

Personal life

In 1995, McCall earned her Bachelor's of Art in social work from Cleveland State University. McCall worked at McDonald's to pay her tuition.

In 1997, McCall earned her Master's in Public Administration (MPA).

On 12 May 2012, McCall received an Honorary Doctorate Degree, a Doctor of Public Service honoris causa (with all Rights, Privileges and Honors).

Career

Ms. McCall previously worked at the Templum House for battered women and as a social worker for Cuyahoga County's Department of Children and Family Services.

After McCall purchased a home in Cleveland's Ward 5, she began attending community meetings. At one of these meetings, she was introduced to then-Councilman for Ward 5, Frank Jackson, who encouraged to work at Midtown Cleveland Inc., "a community development organization that focuses on developing the two square miles between downtown Cleveland and University Circle."

McCall served as region manager for the Cleveland Industrial Retention Initiative.

In 1999, McCall was appointed by former Cleveland mayor Michael White to serve as the Enterprise Zone's fourth director. McCall previously served the City of Cleveland as Director of the Empowerment Zone under the Department of Economic Development. In this position, McCall managed a $200 million budget, oversaw the distribution of funds for job training and placement initiatives, as well as the direct lending programs to businesses in four neighborhoods.

In 2002, she became the youngest Clerk of Council in Cleveland's history.

In 2006, McCall became the first person to be named the Chief of Government & International Affairs for the City of Cleveland. McCall currently serves as the Chief of Government Affairs to Mayor Jackson. In this position, McCall serves as the "Administration’s primary liaison to local and state governments, and all federal and international agencies and organizations ... oversee[ing] and administers the Jackson Administration’s appointments to internal and external boards and commissions ... [serves as the] primary representative to several national organizations, including, but not limited to: the United States Conference of Mayors; National Conference of Black Mayors; National League of Cities and the National Black Caucus of Local and Elected Officials, [and] assisting Mayor Jackson with the implementation of his policy initiatives designed to promote regional growth and cooperation, both nationally and internationally." McCall also serves on the boards of several organizations, including Opera Cleveland and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum; represents the mayor on such boards as the Northeast Ohio Mayors & Managers Association.

McCall also serves as the Mayor's representative to the Ohio Municipal League's Board, the Board of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (Five County Metropolitan Planning Organization), and Cuyahoga County Mayor's and Managers Association and the Northeast Ohio Mayors & Managers Association, the Executive Committees of both the Cuyahoga County & Ohio Democratic Parties, with a recent appointment to the Democratic National Committee. In addition, McCall serves on the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Visiting Committee, the Government Affairs Committees of the United Way of Cleveland and the Center for Families & Children and has previously served as a member of the advisory board of Cleveland State University's Center for Nonprofit Policy & Practice.

Since 2006, McCall has been a board member of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

In October 2015, McCall was elected Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors.

McCall served as Chair of the City of Cleveland's RNC 2016 Special Events Committee and board member of Cleveland 2016 Inc., the host committee for the 2016 Republican National Convention.

McCall was the first African-American female president of the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency (NOACA).

She was also the host of Government Affairs: A Closer Look, a public affairs television show about Cleveland area community issues.

On 19 June 2018, after McCall submitted a letter of interest to the RTA requesting to be considered for president or vice president, she withdrew her nomination, stating, “I think we’re at a situation of mistrust -- mistrust of one another at the board level, mistrust of us with our own respective leadership and executive staff and we should not be there.” As a result, Republican mayor of Westlake Dennis M. Clogh ran unopposed and secured the nomination with a vote of 8–0.