Valarie McCall facts for kids

Valarie McCall, born Valarie J. McCall, is an important leader for the City of Cleveland, Ohio. She works as the Chief of Communications, Government & International Affairs. She is well-known for being the youngest person to serve as the City Clerk and Clerk of Council in Cleveland's history.

Early Life and Education

Growing Up in Cleveland

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

When she was younger, Valarie thought about becoming a lawyer. She went to the Martin Luther King Law and Public Service Magnet High School. This school was in the Hough neighborhood.

College and Degrees

In 1995, Valarie McCall earned her first college degree. She received a Bachelor of Arts in social work from Cleveland State University. To help pay for her classes, she worked at McDonald's.

Later, in 1997, she earned a Master's degree in Public Administration. This degree helps people learn how to manage public services and government. In 2012, she also received an honorary doctorate degree. This special degree recognized her public service.

Valarie McCall's Career

Early Public Service Roles

Before working for the city, Ms. McCall helped others in different ways. She worked at Templum House, a place for women who needed help. She also served as a social worker for Cuyahoga County's Department of Children and Family Services.

After buying a home in Cleveland, she started going to community meetings. At one meeting, she met Frank G. Jackson, who was a Councilman at the time. He encouraged her to work at Midtown Cleveland Inc. This group helps develop areas between downtown Cleveland and University Circle.

Leading City Departments

Valarie McCall also worked as a region manager for the Cleveland Industrial Retention Initiative. This group helps keep businesses in Cleveland.

In 1999, former Cleveland mayor Michael White chose her to lead the Enterprise Zone. Before that, she was the Director of the Empowerment Zone for the City of Cleveland. In this role, she managed a large budget. She also helped give money for job training and business loans in four neighborhoods.

Becoming Clerk of Council

In 2002, Valarie McCall made history. She became the youngest Clerk of Council in Cleveland's history. This role involves managing official city council records and meetings.

Chief of Government Affairs

In 2006, Valarie McCall took on a new and important role. She became the first person to be named the Chief of Government & International Affairs for the City of Cleveland. In this job, she connects the city with local, state, federal, and international groups.

She also helps Mayor Jackson with his plans to help Cleveland grow. She serves on boards for many organizations. These include Opera Cleveland and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. She also represents the mayor on groups like the Northeast Ohio Mayors & Managers Association.

Transportation Leadership

Since 2006, Valarie McCall has been a board member of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). This group manages public transportation in the Cleveland area.

In October 2015, she was chosen to lead the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Board of Directors. This is a big national organization for public transportation.

Valarie McCall also helped with the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in 2016. She led the Special Events Committee for the city. She was also the first African-American female president of the Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency (NOACA).

She even hosted a TV show called Government Affairs: A Closer Look. This show talked about community issues in the Cleveland area.

In 2018, Valarie McCall decided not to seek a leadership role at the RTA. She explained that there was "mistrust" among the board members.

Challenges and Discussions

Gay Games Involvement

Valarie McCall played a key part in bringing the Gay Games to Cleveland. She was part of the Cleveland team that visited the 2010 Gay Games in Germany.

There was a disagreement about who would host the games in Cleveland. A group called the Cleveland Synergy Foundation (CSF) had the original license. However, the Federation of Gay Games (FGG) later ended their agreement. CSF then sued several groups, including Valarie McCall. They claimed she worked against them. The City of Cleveland later agreed to pay CSF to settle the issue. The city did not admit any wrongdoing.

Discussions About Her Title

In 2012, after Valarie McCall received her honorary doctorate degree, there was some discussion. News reports noted that she began signing her emails as "Dr. Valarie J. McCall." Some people wondered if it was common to use "Dr." after receiving an honorary degree.

RTA Payments Discussion

In 2018, there was a discussion about payments Valarie McCall received from the RTA. RTA board members can receive a monthly payment. However, when she was first appointed, the mayor had asked that she not be paid.

In 2014, Valarie McCall asked to receive these payments, including money for past years she had not taken. RTA leaders approved this. However, there was a disagreement about why she asked for the payments. She said RTA staff encouraged her to take the money to avoid an audit. RTA officials said they did not tell her she had to take the money.

Later in 2018, the RTA stopped paying some board members, including Valarie McCall. This happened while an investigation looked into whether public employees could be paid by two different public groups for the same hours. The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office requested records related to these payments.