CJ Prentiss transformed what leadership could be in Cleveland, across Ohio, and beyond— pairing moral courage with political craft to deliver results for students, working families, and communities too often left out.
She refused the claim that “there is no money” for fair school funding, insisting on a constitutional system that serves all Ohio public schools. She also rejected the prevailing “lockthem-up” approach to youth and the war on drugs—often standing alone to vote against harsh sentencing when it violated justice and common sense.
Education is not just about academic achievement—it's about building character, fostering community, and creating opportunities for growth that extend far beyond the classroom.
CJ insisted that Black women belong at the center of feminist leadership, and she pushed progressive spaces to include Black communities and confront white supremacy. With that same vision, she helped spark Policy Matters Ohio, a beacon for pro-working-class policy analysis and action.
A devoted Christian and member of the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ in Ashtabula, CJ practiced religious pluralism in public life—speaking up when faith was used to exclude and affirming that people have the right to their beliefs, or none at all.
CJ nurtured a new generation of policymakers and organizers who link legislation to grassroots power. The Prentiss-Charney Fellows at the Zinn Education Project carry that charge forward, supporting educators to study, organize, and teach people’s history.
Her deepest joy was her family. CJ’s commitment to her sons, Albert and Maurice, never wavered—cheering them on even when sports weren’t her passion. She celebrated 43 years of marriage and often said the best decision she ever made was marrying her partner. Their love grounded her public courage.
We hope you take inspiration from CJ to be a caring, authentic citizen who fights for all people in our struggle for economic and social justice.
Please help continue CJ’s legacy of educational excellence and community engagement.