Failures tend to discourage many from achieving their dreams. Many people stay within their comfort zone because they believe that this will lead them to true success. This is not the case for Ebony Lucas, 43, who ran for Alderman of the 4th ward.
Lucas went to the University of Michigan and received a degree in elementary education. A few years later, she went back for law school where she worked for a law firm that represented racial discrimination cases.
She is a native of Detroit but moved to Chicago for a career opportunity. Lucas is now an active member of the Black community and is a real estate attorney with her own business. Lucas did not stick to the path that she painted out for herself and went outside the box on what she wanted to do despite many obstacles.
“My life was one failure after another,” Lucas said as she grinned from ear to ear. Lucas added that she was the first in her family to get a divorce but is now remarried for about 10 years and is a mother of five.
Running for Alderman of the 4th ward and coming in second was a huge public failure for Lucas. But this failure helped her realize what she wanted to do for the years to come.
“Find your lesson in whatever your failure is,” Lucas said, who added that during her campaign she spoke about things people were too afraid to talk about and it helped her figure out that she wants to stay in politics and engaged with her community.
Some of the things Lucas has done for the Black community are things like building a community garden and worked with community members and organizations to place a safe place for teens on Halloween in the Hyde Park area. This event has encountered many obstacles throughout the years, but Lucas continues to try to work with officials.
Jacqueline Howard, 38, who is the Senior director of corporate citizenship for Ally Financial has known Lucas for about 16 years.
“What I love about Ebony is that she is fearless, relentless, and crazy smart,” Howard said who added that Lucas goes above and beyond for her goals that she sets for herself that bring her out of her comfort zone.
With her educational background, Lucas has been able to apply her knowledge to her ventures which has allowed her to grow within her interest in politics, her entrepreneurship, and find many opportunities.
“When I feel fearful about something or not sure, she will give me wise counsel and really pushes me to try things I’m normally afraid to do,” Howard said, who added that Lucas moving to Chicago and doing everything she has done in a city she is not from, shows how ambitious and fearless she really is.
Lucas believes that many people focus on trying to fit into one box when it comes to figuring out what they want to be when they grow up.
“It’s ok to not know. I am 43 years old, and I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but I know what I do,” Lucas said.
Source List:
Ebony Lucas
Phone: 312-672-2299
Jacqueline Howard
Phone: 313-300-0234