The Black Culture Podcast sits down with Cleveland city council candidate Azel Bolden, (currently running in ward 2), to discuss life in the community, and his commitment to change.
Graduating John F. Kennedy High School in the class of 2010 in the top 15% of his class, Azel decided to leave Cleveland and attend North Carolina to attend Shaw University where he studied Mathematics, and then transferred to West Virginia State University where he graduated with a degree of BA in Economics in 2016.
After graduating he returned home and worked for Huntington Bank as a Relationship Banker, and subsequently, Quicken Loans Mortgage Company as a Loan Originator.
Making a decision to never work for anyone again, Azel made the decision to leave Quicken Loans and open his own convenience store in his childhood neighborhood.
Now as a Substitute teacher, recognizing the community needs positive impact, he created a non-profit called Chess Knot Checkers. The idea was to change the community around him, one individual, at a time by teaching the game of chess which improves critical thinking skills.
“Be The Change You Want to see” is the motto he stands by.
