Brandon A. Jessup

Brandon A. Jessup is a committed community leader and bridge builder across race, ethnicity, and class. Brandon’s efforts led to the creation of Michigan Forward, a progressive public policy organization, for which he serves as chairman. Brandon discovered his penchant for politics while at Eastern Michigan University. As a campus leader in student government and EMU’s NAACP chapter, he led mobilization and advocacy efforts for student representation, accountability, and diversity, leading to the creation of a student bill of rights and a university campus creed. In 2005, Brandon was the recipient of the Roy Wilkins Man of the Year Award for NAACP Region 3. In 2011, his alma mater honored him as an outstanding young alumnus. He also received the Freedom Institute’s Critical Thinking Award and a special tribute from the Michigan State Legislature. The Michigan Chronicle named Brandon a “Young History Maker” in 2010, and he has been featured in various Web and print publications. Brandon served as the African-American voters outreach director for Organizing for America-Michigan, and in 2013, he was on the Presidential Inauguration Committee. He has also served as a member of the Detroit Library Commission’s Detroit Literacy Council, the African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Democratic Party. Brandon has occupied various leadership roles for the Young Democrats of America and Michigan Young Democrats.