Davida Russell Contribution
Cleveland Heights Council Vice President Davida Russell and the Labor Leader is the
In these positions, Davida represents more than 180,000 members across Ohio and 10,000 in Northeast Ohio. She is a Commission Member of the Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission, and Executive Board Member of the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland. In 2021 Davida was re-elected to her second term as Cleveland Heights City Councilwoman, as the top vote getter of all Cleveland Heights candidates, representing over 44,000 residents. Davida serves as the Labor Chair for the Ohio NAACP and the Greater Cleveland Chapter NAACP.
For 20 consecutive years, Davida served as president and administrator of OAPSE/AFSCME Local 744, until her retirement in 2013. Davida has also served as State Vice President of OAPSE Local 4, as the First African American woman to hold a top leadership position in her union, which she held for over 10 years until her resignation in 2015, to focus more of her time in Northeast Ohio.
She was appointed by Governor, Ted Strickland to the Ohio Board of Commission of MR/DD to serve on the Futures Study Committee. Davida served as the Vice Chair of the first historic Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission, and served as a commission member on the second Cuyahoga County Charter Review Commission.
Davida served nationally on President Clinton’s Women’s Round Table of Greater Cleveland, worked on the Biden-Harris transition committee with a focus on housing, urban development, and education. She has represented public employees in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she received an award from the Ambassador of Italy.
Well known for her dedication to working people and her community, she has been at the forefront of organizing, educating, training, increasing political awareness among workers, campaigning for pro-labor politicians and issues, and operating and managing as CEO of the largest canvassing operation in the state of Ohio since 2002.
Councilwoman and Vice President Davida Russell has been a driving force for community engagement, equity, and neighborhood revitalization. She launched her own initiative, “You Talk, I Listen”, a community engagement forum that invites residents to share concerns, ask questions, and shape policy.
Councilwoman Russell authored legislation allocating $4 million in ARPA funds to revitalize distressed neighborhoods in Cleveland Heights and an additional $1 million to support the recovery of small businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A fierce advocate for justice and inclusion, she introduced legislation supporting the CROWN Act, protecting African Americans from discrimination based on hair texture and style in the workplace. Alongside two fellow council members, she helped pass legislation declaring racism a public health crisis and established a Racial Justice Task Force to examine systemic inequities in the city.
Russell also championed legislation that allows residents to walk leashed dogs in all Cleveland Heights parks and was instrumental in creating a resolution that led to the development of the Mayor’s Action Center—a centralized 311 service system for residents to access city services and make inquiries.
She introduced legislation in support of the PRO Act, which promotes fair collective bargaining rights for unions and employers. In her efforts to revitalize the Noble, Caledonia, and Taylor neighborhoods, Russell advocated for infill housing development, leading to the construction of 23 new homes. During the 2020 presidential election, she connected the Biden campaign to local Black-owned businesses in these neighborhoods, helping spotlight their contributions and talents.
Councilwoman Russell actively encouraged participation in the 2020 Census, creating job opportunities for residents and ensuring representation and resources for her city. She continues to expand her “You Talk, I Listen” series and also hosts quarterly tenant-landlord forums with Cleveland Heights Judge J.J. Costello to educate both parties on their rights.
Russell partners with banks and financial institutions to host programs focused on homeownership, generational wealth, and financial literacy. Through her partnerships with hospitals, churches, synagogues, and the Cleveland Heights Library, she offers free community resources, including First Aid and CPR training, along with various public advancement workshops.
In 2021, she helped lead the development of a new inclusive playground at Forest Hill Park, as well as a renovated playground and splash pad at Dennison Park, giving children north of Mayfield new spaces for recreation and play. She also authored legislation to fund lifeguards at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Pool, which passed in a 4–3 vote.
Looking ahead, she continues to advocate for a Cleveland Heights Canine Recreation Park and a living wage ordinance to ensure all city employees earn fair and sustainable wages.
In addition to her civic and legislative work, Councilwoman Russell remains deeply involved in labor advocacy. She continues to organize, educate, and build political awareness through her nonprofit organization, Ohio Alliance for Community Education (Ohio ACE)—the largest canvassing operation in Ohio.
A multifaceted leader, Davida has been featured in numerous editions of Who’s Who, including the 2023 edition of One of the Most Influential Black Women in Cleveland: Celebrating African American Achievement. She has also co-hosted a local television show, written, produced, and directed a union-themed play, published written works, and voiced union-sponsored radio commercials.
Councilwoman Russell is a proud graduate of the Cleveland State Labor-Management Relations Center Program, Leadership Cleveland, and the George Meany National Labor College, where she earned a dual Bachelor’s degree in Labor Studies and Union Leadership & Administration.
She wears many hats: Labor Leader, City Councilwoman, School Bus Driver, Substitute Teacher, CEO, and most proudly, wife of 46 years, mother to daughters Dominique and Brittany, and grandmother to Dionna, Reuben, and Clenson.
