About

Civic & Business

  • Served as Co-Chair of the Polk County Democratic Party from 1984 to 1986, chairing a record voter registration and turnout effort that contributed to Iowa going from a G.O.P. to a Democratic state.  He served on Gov. Branstad’s Inauguration Committee. He was the youngest co-chair and chair of a state commission in Iowa serving from the very beginning of the Iowa Commission on the Status of Blacks, now African-Americans.  He was also a leading advocate for the hiring of it’s first Executive Director, Gary Lawson.
  • During nearly three decades of political advocacy, Jonathan has been highly effective, never afraid to be controversial, not backing down in the face of power and privilege, fighting for working Iowans and Iowa families.  Always operating under the philosophy that if he took the hits and let others take the credit a great deal could be accomplished, Jonathan is proud of a long list of achievements.  An example is education advocacy: former State House Education Committee Chair Betty Grundberg stated on the Jan Mickelson Show “Jon and his group got more legislation passed on education than any group I’ve seen since serving in the legislature.”
  • Took over publishing the Iowa Bystander and later the Communicator, rescuing both publications from closure.  The Iowa Bystander, which had ceased publication, is again thriving.  The Communicator became the third largest paper in Polk County.  The Bystander was featured at the White House and Smithsonian Museums.  Jonathan has owned and published many other papers, at one point owning or publishing 29 periodicals including all the major suburban papers in Polk County.  Jonathan currently publishes several papers including the following:  El Comunicador – Iowa’s first statewide Latino paper,  Iowa Fronteras – Iowa’s first statewide Spanish language paper, Iowa Campus Life – formerly Cyclone Nation/Cyclone Times the paper is expanding to campuses across Iowa, and Iowa Vanguard – formerly the Independent Iowan, it serves as a widely circulated e-political journal
  • Hosted several shows on Des Moines radio station KUCB including the Daily Wake Up Show for more than a decade,  and he hosted “Only Permanent Interest” on Des Moines radio station KJMC, a weekly educational program focused on political empowerment.  He has hosted Black Iowa Today, Black Iowa Imperative and the Legislative Wrap on KBBG in Waterloo. He participates in a weekly panel discussion on WHO Radio, the state’s only statewide electronic media outlet, and was a weekly fixture on KXNO’s Weekly sports roundtable.
  • Hosted several television shows most recently the weekly show “I Am Listening!”.  He has over the years produced, designed, created or consulted on several programs such as the “Capitol Hill Report.”
  • Most recently served on the Des Moines School Board where he got more than two dozen reform measures passed, increased local and statewide awareness on key issues such as the increasing dropout rate and spearheaded the effort that resulted in an overwhelming victory for the District’s Revenue Purpose Statement.
  • Jonathan has held meetings in all 99 counties in Iowa for an effort called “An Iowa Worth Fighting For” and leading a statewide education initiative to address the emerging crisis in Iowa’s urban education.

Education

  • Regis College, now Regis University ‘81 – ‘83; Dean’s List; Varsity Tennis, Fencing
  • Des Moines Technical High School: Radio & Television Core Areas ‘79 – ‘81; Varsity letterman multiple sports; State chess champion

Awards & Honors

  • Received numerous awards and honors at the community, local, state, regional and national level.
  • Recognized by the Bush, Clinton and Bush Administrations and the Branstad, Vilsack and Culver Administrations.
  • Received awards from nearly every major Black organization throughout Iowa including the Iowa Commission on the Status of African Americans, the NAACP, and KBBG.
  • Recipient of the 2009 ICSAA Pinnacle Award.   He was named to the first Callanan Junior High Hall of Fame, others inducted that year included former Gov. Robert Ray, Andy Williams, Mary Brubaker, and John Ruan III.
  • Named the S.B.A. Regional Minority Business Advocate of the Year and being named a finalist for the National award. This award is important to him because it represents his contribution in helping build the success of others; in helping create jobs in our community; and in helping in the creation of wealth for our community.
  • Washington Times Foundation Award for Service to Youth.
  • Representative for Tiny Tots on the Area Policy Council for Headstart.
  • Appointed by Evelyn Davis as Iowa’s Representative to the “One Church One Child” National Movement promoting adoption in the nation’s Black churches.
  • A talented boxer, compiled a 17-0 record boxing in D.C.
  • Finished second in the nation in the open division of the U.S. Game 10 Chess Championships in Chicago

Family

  • Jonathan has two daughters: Integrity 13 and Perseverance 10, a son Ason Johnce 31, and three grandchildren.