Stephanie Tubbs Jones

Hello! My name is Stephanie Tubbs Jones. I was born in a big city called Cleveland, Ohio, on September 10th, 1949. I loved my city very much. Even when I was a little girl, my biggest dream was to find ways to help the people in my community. I wanted to make sure everyone had what they needed to be happy and safe. I knew that helping others was the most important thing I could do with my life.

To learn how to help people, I knew I had to study hard in school. After I finished college, I went to a special school called law school at Case Western Reserve University, which was right there in my hometown of Cleveland. A lawyer is someone who learns all the rules of a country, which are called laws. My plan was to learn all about the laws so I could make sure everyone was treated fairly. I believed that understanding the rules was the best way to help protect people and make sure their voices were heard.

After I finished law school, I got my first big jobs helping my community. First, I worked as a prosecutor, which meant I helped decide if someone had broken a rule. I was very proud to be the first African American woman to do this job in my county. Then, in 1983, I became a judge. A judge is like a referee in a game. I would listen carefully to all sides of a story to make a fair choice. It was a very important job, and I was honored to be the first African American woman to become that kind of judge in the entire state of Ohio.

After being a judge, I realized I wanted to help even more people. In 1998, I was elected to the United States Congress. A person in Congress helps make the laws for the whole country. This was a very exciting moment for me because I was the very first African American woman from Ohio to be chosen for this important job. I moved to Washington, D.C., where I worked hard every day. I fought to make sure children had good schools, families had good doctors, and everyone had a chance to succeed and follow their dreams.

I lived to be 58 years old. People remember me as a trailblazer. A trailblazer is someone who opens up a new path for others to follow. I was the first to do many things, and I hope that made it easier for others who came after me. I hope my story shows you that no matter where you come from, you can study hard, work hard, and become a voice for people who need help.