John M. Hairston, Jr.

 

District Director for Congresswoman Marcia . Fudge, Ward 11

 

by Zarria Warr, crew 2

 

 

“My mission is to help people I come in contact with” says John Hairston Jr. Worked for 17 years for NASA. “No one thought an educator could get a job at NASA.” Mr. Hairston Jr. worked 27 years in the school system, 3 years with the Cuyahoga board of Elections, CMSD another 3 years, now working for congresswoman. John Hairston Jr. was born in Johnson City, Tennessee.

 John Hairston Jr. is making a difference in Cleveland because he is the District Director for Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge. He and the congresswoman are working to improve nutrition. That deals with farmers, school lunches and obesity issues. Mr. Hairston Jr. is in charge of all activities in Summit & Cuyahoga County. “My cause is to treat people right.” Mr. Hairston Jr. has an open door policy so you can come in and tell him and Marcia L. Fudge your problems. “The main problem is student loans; the government even allows social security to pay it.”

 

When Mr. Hairston Jr. was 4 he was traveling with his grandfather in Tennessee he first became interested in his cause. “That’s where I learned to respect people.” “The only thing that changes is skin color; I try not to pay attention to that and race.” John Hairston Jr. was raised in Garry, WV because that’s a coal mining community; his father was a coal miner. John Hairston originally wanted to be a funeral director, then a lawyer and from then he became a teacher. Also, Mr. Hairston has a book written about his family called; The Hairstons by: Henry Wiencek.

 

John Hairston’s specific role that he plays as district director is to run all activities in Summit County, make sure everyone has equal treatment and pay. Mr. Hairston’s favorite thing about his career is that he gets to work with Marcia Fudge. “She is very smart, detailed and I don’t have a problem working with her.” The feeling is mutual according to Marcia L. Fudge. “He is kind, and he has a great sense of humor. He understands clearly that we are working for the people and not ourselves. He is capable and I trust him a great deal. He makes life easier by taking care of issues and dealing with people that I often times do not have the opportunity to do as much as I’d like. He takes care of the issues while I’m in Washington. He runs the office here in Cleveland and he does a great job” says Congresswoman Marcia Fudge. The people that live in Ohio inspire Mr. John Hairston Jr. to stay as district director. Mr. Hairston loves to help people.

 

Mr.Hairston was inspired by the people because his mission is to make the world safer and help get people out of poverty. The differences Mr. Hairston’s work is making in Cleveland are he is trying to make sure veterans have homes to come back to home to. Also, Mr. Hairston and Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge made a rehab center for people who need it. Mr. Hairston and Marcia L. Fudge both put in lots of money for the rehab center that they pulled together. “We also work with ministers to see how we can decrease fights/ violence in Ohio” says John Hairston Jr.

 

Mr. Hairston Jr. plans to get a library card in every 3rd graders hand. Also, equal pay for equal work for different genders to have the same amount of money.  Planning to raise minimum wage in Ohio from $7.25-$7.95 to $10.10 an hour, voting rights to expand hours of voting. In the future Mr. Hairston sees himself “retiring again and looking for someone to take my place in office.” The outcome John Hairston Jr. would like to see is “I would like to see the world becoming a better place and people becoming out of poverty.”

John Hairston Jr.  has some  helpful advice to share “Respect yourself first. Once you respect yourself, you can respect others. You can’t learn without respect. Don’t make excuses for non-performance. Don’t lie to yourself.” “The best way to get out of a hole is to stop digging the hole deeper.” This statement is saying the best way to get out of a situation or a lie is to stop lying or making the situation first. “If you want to learn more look me up” says John Hairston. He says it’s a pleasure to work with the congresswoman he says “it’s a pleasure working with her”. Mr. Hairston believes that “I was put on this earth and given certain skills to help people.”