Jass Stewart is the first-ever minority or openly gay person elected to Brockton's City Council. Currently serving his first two-year term, he represents the entire city as one of four At-Large Councilors.
Born in Dallas, Texas on March 13, Jass Stewart earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications and a Master's degree in Education from Boston University. He also studied at MIT as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning.
But even before Jass Stewart moved to Massachusetts for college, he sharpened his skill for communicating ideas and inspiring others during his high school years at the Business Management Center in Dallas. At this magnet high school for talented students, he was the senior class commencement speaker and an active leader in many extracurricular activities.
Since his college graduation, Jass Stewart has excelled in a wide field of professional work. He has served in key media outreach positions for major multimillion-dollar national and international media outreach efforts since 1994, including executive leadership roles at Blackside Films (producers of the public television series Eyes on the Prize), Invent Media, Big Picture Learning, and Jobs for the Future.
Jass Stewart cites the culture, progressive political environment, and sense of community as reasons for his permanent move to Massachusetts. Yet, his decision to move to Brockton was an even more personal one. After thriving in the bustle of the greater Boston area for 10 years, Brockton's small-town charm, convenient location, and incredible potential for a prosperous business and family life attracted him to the city in 1999.
"It's one of the best decisions I've ever made," he says. "The world is so transient these days. It's good to be able to live in a city that my family and I can call our home."
Jass Stewart remains committed to contributing to the civic and social life of Brockton. He currently serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Brockton. Stewart also served on the boards of Brockton Neighbors United, the Brockton Telecommunications Commission, the Center for the Advancement of Science Exploration at Bridgewater State College, the Mayor's Taskforce on After-School Programs, Neighborhood Crime Watch, and the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs. In addition, he maintains close ties to several organizations in the greater Boston area.
Jass Stewart's extensive travels have given him a broadened perspective for and greater appreciation of life at home. He has traveled to most parts of Western Europe and Southeast Asia, and has visited Ghana, Morocco, Canada, and Mexico.
Jass Stewart lives on Clyde Street on the north side of Brockton. During his downtime, Stewart enjoys traveling with his family, distance running, reading, swimming, floor hockey, writing, football, and rollerblading.
