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| Submission declined on 22 June 2024 by Fade258 (talk). This submission appears to be taken from https://shoutoutatlanta.com/meet-demetrus-coonrod-city-councilwoman-social-influencer/. Wikipedia cannot accept material copied from elsewhere, unless it explicitly and verifiably has been released to the world under a suitably free and compatible copyright license or into the public domain and is written in an acceptable tone—this includes material that you own the copyright to. You should attribute the content of a draft to outside sources, using citations, but copying and pasting or closely paraphrasing sources is not acceptable. The entire draft should be written using your own words and structure. Declined by Fade258 4 months ago.
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| Submission declined on 11 June 2024 by Timtrent (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of people). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia. I am not persuaded that Conrad passes WP:NPOL nor WP:NAUTHOR. Your job is to prove her notability. Declined by Timtrent 4 months ago. | |
Comment: Member of a city council (this particular population) is not notable per WP:NPOL. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 00:09, 21 September 2024 (UTC)
Demetrus Coonrod | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chattanooga City Council from the 9th district | |
| Assumed office April 24, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Yusuf Hakeem |
| In office 2018–2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 30, 1974 Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Political party | Tennessee Democratic Party |
Demetrus Coonrod is among the first in Tennessee, and the U.S., to earn her voting rights back after a felony conviction.[1][2] A formerly incarcerated Black woman, Coonrod successfully restored her voting rights in December 2016.[3] Her achievement is notable especially in Tennessee, where voting rights restoration is more difficult than in other states, and where few citizens regain voting rights after serving time for a felony conviction.[4][5] In Tennessee, nearly 10% of the state can't vote in elections per felony convictions.[6] That's nearly half a million people.[7] 21% of Black Tennesseans are disenfranchised.[8] That's more than in any other state.[9] Having restored her own voting rights, Coonrod is an advocate for the formerly convicted reentering society, fighting for the reinstatement of their civil rights, especially their voting rights, to ensure that those who have paid their debt can fully participate in civic life again.[10] In 2022, Coonrod published a memoir, From Prison To Purpose: A Past That Shaped My Future, in which she recounts her rise from the traumas and desperations of poverty to dedicated civil servant.[11]
Coonrod is the only convicted felon to be elected to office in Chattanooga, Tennessee.[12] She is is a Democratic politician and currently Council Woman for District 9, voted in for her second term on April 24, 2021. She sits as chair member of the Council's Economic Development Committee.[13]
She is a mother, grandmother, author, and graduate of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga where she received a bachelor's degree in Sociology in 2022.[14]
Early life
editCoonrod was born in Chattanooga, TN on December 30, 1974, the oldest of 4 siblings. Because her parents struggled with drug addiction, she helped care for herself as well as her siblings as she was raised by her grandmother, who she calls her "shero."[15] At 12 years old, Coonrod became a mother. Growing up in oppressed conditions and forced to endure a life of abuse, violence, and hardships, she survived traumas she now uses as a drive to accomplish positive change.[16]
In 2001 and 2002, Coonrod pleaded guilty to being involved in holdups at Popeye's and a plasma center. While she did not herself commit crimes, she allowed others to use her vehicle to do so.[17] She was convicted of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, sentenced to an 84-month sentence, and sent to prison in Tallahassee, Florida.[18] She was released early due to cooperating with police during an investigation into corrections officers smuggling drugs in exchange for money and sex. [19][20]
She earned an associates degree from Chattanooga State Community College, and a bachelor's degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.[14][21]
Activism
editAfter being released from prison, Coonrod decided to pursue politics. To do so, she had to break a cycle: "I had to exclude a lot of people from my life. That included family and friends. Understanding that my environment was a breeding ground for criminal activity, I went to the streets to change that narrative for others, showing them a better path."[22] The Hamilton County Election Commission acknowledged Coonrod as eligible and qualified to run for office, as her voting rights and citizen rights were restored in November 2016. In April 2017, Coonrod defeated long-serving Republican Yusuf Hakeem. [23]
Coonrod focuses on issues impacting Chattanoogans and all Tennesseans, and on bettering the lives of all.[24] In 2021, Coonrod supported Tennessee Governer Bill Lee's criminal justice reform bills, the Alternative to Incarceration Act and the Re-Entry Success Act.[25][26] She encourages citizens to understand their representation in government and to pay attention to redistricting efforts.[27] In addition to promoting voting rights restoration and voter education and turnout, she calls on citizens to solution seek for themselves when elected officials do not solve issues like community violence. She calls on citizens to stop cycles of violence to protect education and other aspects of public and private life.[28] She advocates for community as well as individual safety in promoting efforts like opening fire halls for quicker response times and emergency medical services in underserved neighborhoods.[29]
Coonrod fosters sustained change by focusing on opportunities for young people. Coonrod's response to Chattanooga's high and rising youth violence is to offer and encourage better choices.[30] For instance, she's working to change the minimum age to become a firefighter from 21 to 18, opening service opportunities to more and younger community members.[31]
Community involvement
edit- Hamilton County School Leadership Program[32]
- Vice Chair of Hamilton County Democratic Party[13]
- Chattanooga-Hamilton county NAACP[33]
- National Black Caucus[33]
- Order of Eastern Star Zia 31081[33]
- Tennessee Municipal League[33]
- A Step Ahead Contraceptive Access Advisory committee[33]
- Human Development Committee[33]
- Creator and President of Eastdale Neighborhood Association[34]
- Board member of The Sports Barn, Community Development Block Grant, and Causeway
- Advocate for restoring voting rights for convicted felons as part of the Ban the Box Movement[35]
- Member of Race, Equity, and Leadership Council by the National League of Cities[36]
- Board member of Criminal Justice Reform Task Force[33]
- Leadership Tennessee 2023-2024 Signature Program Class X[37]
References
edit- ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Council supports newly elected councilwoman with criminal past". Local3News.com. 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ Levine, Sam; Lerner, Kira (2023-07-22). "Tennessee toughens voting rules for people with felony convictions". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ New York Times, The Learning Network (October 10, 2024). "'How Tennessee Keeps Nearly Half a Million People From Voting'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Tennessee Enacts New Policies to Further Disenfranchise Black Voters". Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Fortis, Bianca (2022-11-08). "Why 21% of Tennessee's Black Citizens Can't Vote". ProPublica. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ "Restoring Voting Rights for Tennessee Felons Is Discouraging". Governing. 2023-03-27. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Book Review: Demetrus Coonrod's Inspiring "From Prison to Purpose"". www.chattanoogan.com. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ Paris, Nea (2021-05-27). "Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod 'excited' about Gov. Lee's Criminal Justice Reform Act - Chattanooga News Chronicle". Chattanooga News Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ a b "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ a b Ryan, Shawn (2022-05-09). "City Councilwoman Coonrod earns UTC degree". UTC News. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ "In Her Own Words: Demetrus Coonrod On "Prison To Purpose"". WUTC. 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Demetrus Coonrod rises from convict to councilwoman | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ "Book Review: Demetrus Coonrod's Inspiring "From Prison to Purpose"". www.chattanoogan.com. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "The Transformation from Convict to Councilwoman". Governing. 2017-06-13. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ "The Transformation from Convict to Councilwoman". 13 June 2017.
- ^ "New Chattanooga City Councilwoman Has Criminal Past". 17 April 2017.
- ^ WTVC (2022-05-06). "Former felon, current Chattanooga city councilwoman now a college graduate". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ sidreddy (2022-02-16). "Meet Demetrus Coonrod | City Councilwoman & Social Influencer". SHOUTOUT ATLANTA. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
- ^ "Council supports newly elected councilwoman with criminal past". 12 April 2017.
- ^ "Demetrus Coonrod". Demetrus Coonrod. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ Cooper, Eryn (2021-05-25). "Chattanooga councilwoman shares personal ties to new TN criminal, police reform laws". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Staff, Temple Ricke, FOX 17 News Digital (2021-05-24). "Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signs criminal justice reform bills". WTVC. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ ""Knowing Your District Is Crucial" Says Councilwoman Coonrod". www.chattanoogan.com. 2024-09-30. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ TTC (2024-09-30). "Mayor Tim Kelly Says Everything Is Just Fine In Chattanooga But City Councilwoman Disagrees". Tennessee Conservative. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod Praises Opening Of Fire Hall Station 15 And Advocates For Youth Opportunities in Firefighting". www.chattanoogan.com. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ TTC (2024-10-10). "Chattanooga Crime Continues To Spark Citizen Concern After Shooting Of 16-Year-Old". Tennessee Conservative. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ "Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod Praises Opening Of Fire Hall Station 15 And Advocates For Youth Opportunities in Firefighting". www.chattanoogan.com. 2024-10-04. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Demetrus Coonrod, District 9". chattanooga.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ "Eastdale looks to Highland Park for answers | Chattanooga Times Free Press". www.timesfreepress.com. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Ashford, Camm (2022-08-04). "'Revitalize Eastdale' Community Meeting Set for Aug. 8". Chattanooga News Chronicle. Retrieved 2024-06-22.
- ^ Murphey, Bailey (2019-02-12). "Chattanooga Councilwoman Coonrod appointed to National Equity Council". WTVC. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
- ^ "Leadership Tennessee Names Councilwoman Coonrod To Class X". www.chattanoogan.com. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-12-01.