Jesse Smith goes by a lot of names, including a coach, elder, husband, dad, and grandpa. In a few weeks, he hopes to add the title, councilman to his list of duties. He is one of four candidates vying for the District 4 city council seat.

Smith was reared along with his brothers and sisters in Sterlington, LA, by his parents, Howard and Leola Smith. One thing he remembers most of his childhood was the bond of the Black community where he grew up. Most raised around him grew up, understanding the importance of pride and how they, as a Black community, presented themselves. This collective u...