Jer’Mykeal McCoy dedicates his time to advocating for and empowering residents of the 5th District and the greater Richmond community. He is passionate about bringing more people into the political process and showing them the power of their vote. McCoy is running again for Richmond City Council because he believes that as our city grows, so should all of us. He wants to use his policy and business experience to enhance the lives of his fellow Richmonders. The Knoxville, Tennessee native is a product of public schools and public housing. He grew up in a loving family on the city’s east side, yet he has seen firsthand the pain of drug abuse, mass incarceration, and gun violence. He credits his mother’s determination to be a homeowner and entrepreneur as the driving force behind his quest to further his education. McCoy also honors his father, a Navy veteran and security guard, for always supporting his goals and accomplishments. His parents’ sacrifices and work ethic are essential elements for him and his younger brothers development and he wants to pay that love forward in supporting the next generation. McCoy’s life of service started early. His teenage years as a YMCA Black Achiever laid the foundation of service. This program exposed black youth to various professional development opportunities and educational workshops. Currently, McCoy is a Business Development Manager with Schutt Sports. In this role, he manages the company’s sales operations for the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, by partnering with local sporting goods stores to service high school and college sports programs. This position provides him first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing small businesses and public schools. He is also a Capstone Adviser at Georgetown University. Additionally, McCoy is the President for the Urban League Greater Richmond Young Professionals. Under his leadership the organization donated $10,000 in scholarships to Richmond Public School students. He also serves on the Advisory Council for Richmond 300, the Board for Venture Forum RVA, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the Tennessee State University National Alumni Association, and The Life Church RVA. He holds a B.A. with honors from Tennessee State University, an HBCU, and a Masters of Professional Studies from Georgetown University. He is a 2020 TSU Alumni 40U40 honoree and has been featured in various publications, including the Washington Post, Richmond Free Press, NBC12, and ABC8.