Dear Neighbor,

My name is Fran Wilson. (they/them)

I’m a fourth-generation Akronite, former Akron Civil Rights Commissioner, and community organizer who ran to for Akron City Council At-Large, placing 5th in a field of 9.

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After graduating from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, I studied in Beijing, China, with the U.S. Department of State (And, before you ask, yes, I speak Mandarin!). I then moved to south-central Kentucky to finish university and find work.

In Kentucky, I fought for student housing protections and organized a campaign to register over 400 students to vote. Off campus, I was a part of the movement to pass city-wide protections for Queer workers and renters. I was in the room when the commissioners voted down my own civil protections, denying justice for my chosen family who had faced firings and evictions because of who they loved and how they presented themselves. That moment pushed me into policy work.

I moved back to Akron in 2019 after some challenging, purpose-driven years — living out of a local food pantry and working three jobs but still not making rent. I found refuge back in Akron and began to rebuild home here.

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As a community organizer working to put the West Hill neighborhood back on the map, I have helped to spark new investment and delivered direct aid to neighbors. As an appointee to the Akron Civil Rights Commission, I led efforts to ensure commission record compliance, include pronouns and add better data collection questions to intake forms, and investigate complaints of discrimination. As a collaborator with a local business incubator, I have worked with Black and minority business owners to amplify their brand story and connect with community resources. By trade, I am a senior public relations professional who works primarily with international clients.

From city council budget hearings to committee meetings, I am a regular at city hall. I’ve worked alongside city leaders to pass a local non-discrimination ordinance (CROWN Act), advocated for public participation in policymaking and budgets, and conducted research to uncover systemic issues in city law enforcement in order to advocate for the decriminalization of cannabis at the local level.

Since the police killing of Jayland Walker, I have been in coalition with local organizers to advocate for justice and accountability in city code, public safety budgeting, and law enforcement practices. I was tear-gassed three times by Akron Police while aiding protestors to safety on July 3, and have been a vocal advocate for the 80 protestors who are currently being prosecuted by the city of Akron.

I ran for office to bring a new perspective to city hall, advocate for Akronites, and make Akron easier to call home.

My fight didn’t start when I ran and it didn’t end when I lost my election. Today, I still go to council meetings, I am very active in my neighborhood, and every week I release a weekly newsletter about the goings-on at city hall (subscribe here).

Lots of folks ask me if I will run again. To them, I say: maybe, but for now, I am resting. My team sincerely hopes that our campaign lit a fire in our community and will encourage others to step up and lead in their own ways.

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Fran identifies as a queer and non-binary Akronite, using “They/Them” pronouns.