On Nov. 9, local business owner and city councilman Leonardo Williams was elected as mayor of Durham.
Williams, whose son, Izaiah Jackson, attended Riverside in 2020-22, made improving small business support and a city-wide focus on youth key parts of his campaign.
A small business owner himself, he and his wife, Zweli, run two Zimbabwean restaurants in Durham. He’s only been a politician since 2021, when he joined the city council
“I don’t know if I would really consider it a career,” said Williams, “the circumstances around me really motivated me to get involved politically.”
Williams learned about the issues surrounding Durham youth, especially teenagers, while working as a teacher at DPS.
“I was able to see the issues in our community amongst our youth firsthand,” he said, “and I would say, ‘gosh, man, if I only could get these kids jobs after school, or get these kids involved in activities after school, or just help them stabilize themselves.”
Williams is especially worried about the problems surrounding Black and Brown young men in the Durham community, who he feels need more assistance.
“Our young men of color are struggling academically,” he said.
He took these ideas with him when he became an entrepreneur, and started ensuring that he was providing as much as he could in the Durham community. Williams was able to fund a citywide apprenticeship program that starts at the age of 16, and also helped create a task force to study the status of young Black men in the city. He plans to continue these programs and also plans to support Durham Public Schools as much as he can while being mayor.
As mayor, Williams also plans to propose a policy of a small business ombudsman position, ensuring that there is someone in government who is there to help navigate any need or support for small businesses. He is highlighting the need for cash capital injection into Durham local businesses.
He supports others being involved in fixing the issues they believe are there, and he hopes to be an example to people.
“I believe in the philosophy of you’re part of the solution or you’re part of the pollution.”
