As the city of Cleveland prepares itself to move forward towards better days and better ways for families to thrive, Beverly Owens-Jackson is striving to do her best to make these things a reality. With a strong family base and a good head on her shoulders,she is bound to make Cleveland a better place to work, live and play.
Beverly Owens (Jackson), graduated from South High School in 1983 with honors and received a Cosmetology license in 1984. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Photography, a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management, a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, a certificate in Criminal Justice, and continues to work on a certification in Human Services, Chemical Dependency, and Counseling. She’s a recovering addict, a survivor of domestic abuse, and experienced homelessness during her addiction that lasted nearly ten years. She now celebrates over twenty-six years of sobriety.
Beverly continues to advocate for at-risk women and speaks about her life obstacles to educate and bring awareness to addiction and abuse; she continuously encourages and motivates women who have endured abuse, addiction, or other life-altering situations, offering them a chance to understand that “if you want to change, you must be the change”.
She was a first-generation college student, the first Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Success Student story (2000), written by the late Mrs. Jane Schierloh of Tri-C’s Trio program, and was also featured in My Tri-C Times magazine for the 50th-anniversary edition of “How Tri-C Changes Lives”.
CouldBeBitter (CBB), is a platform that allows women to speak on issues that could have left them bitter but instead made them better. Beverly’s life story, mostly focusing on her addiction, was featured on stage courtesy of the “Misery Loves Company” play in 2015.
She formerly was the Co-Chair for the then Black Caucus, now Black American Council (BAC), Mentoring program (2002-2013). She currently serves as an Executive Leader for full-time staff at Tri-C, (SEIU1199), Executive Board member, and Social Justice committee member (SEIU1199), and is part of Tri-C’s Network of Women (NOW). She founded CHOICES, a mentoring and resource group for African American students. She also founded and owns Undeniable CHOICES LLC, a business that offers affordable unique clothing, shoes, accessories, and beauty items. She connects the mentoring group and her business by wanting women to nourish themselves internally and externally, exemplified through Undeniable CHOICES LLC’s tagline “resources to retail”.
Beverly often donates gently used clothing and shoes to the City Mission Laura’s House and to Phyllis Wheatly centers. Beverly offers free pre-loved purses filled with toiletries and other items that women find themselves in need.
She was elected to serve as Ward 5 Precinct M member (2022), Board of Directors for Burton Bell Carr (2022), Distinguish Alumni (Tri-C), (2023), Humanitarian Award National Action Network (2023), Outstanding Student Tri-C Black Caucus (2002), Professional Excellence Award Tri-C (2022), as well as the Central Promise Award 2022), that recognizes residents making positive change within the community.
Beverly shows a continued concern for her community and residents. She was one of the thirteen finalists out of an initial two hundred candidates interviewed for a seat on the Cleveland Police Commission (CPC) and was nominated and interviewed for the Black Women Commission. Although, she was not selected for those two commissions, that has not prevented her from still being a determined community activist and upcoming philanthropist.
She is a nominee for the 7th Annual Stiletto Boss Award (2024), which is an organization that recognizes individuals in the community who work anonymously to help others who need resources, wisdom, admiration, and guidance. Beverly was recently nominated by a peer and selected as one of the recipients of the (2024), Cuyahoga Community College Champion Award.
She continues to be the voice forthose who feel they have no voice. She also encourages women to work hard, to showup for themselves and others, and to be kind, including her two daughters. Her most precious dream is to leave her daughters a legacy of self-worth, self-respect, respect for others, and a passion to be a positive and active member of their community. She also wants them to always remember that their values and purpose in life will define them not their past and not how others define them.
Beverly has plans to run for City Council in 2026.