Tony Richardson
Tony Richardson is a native of Lorain, Ohio, where he currently serves as a councilman at large. Tony is a graduate of Oberlin College ?05 and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law ?09.
The accomplishment of which you are most proud? ? At this point in my career, I am most proud of being elected to serve as a councilman at large. When I was elected in 2011, I became the youngest African-American in the city?s history to win an at large council seat. In addition, I am currently the youngest person of color holding a city-wide elected seat in the state of Ohio.
What, in your opinion, makes a good leader? ? A good leader, among other things, must be a student of his or her profession, possess strong listening skills and be able to work in coalition with a range of people with various skills and backgrounds. Good leaders know when to defer and feel comfortable taking advice and direction from other people.
What trends/issues/challenges do you feel particularly apply to young leaders of today and why? ? When I decided to get involved in my community back in my early 20s, I had to overcome the challenge of being labeled as inexperienced. I was able to overcome that challenge by being reliable, accountable and hardworking, which ultimately allowed me to earn the trust and respect of the more seasoned community leaders and activists. I stayed the course, but can easily see how a young, rising leader can get discouraged from the lack of opportunity for professional development. Hands-on experience is the best way to learn but the only way to actually get that experience is through opportunity.