Jessica Sutherland was born and raised in and around towns that compromise District 17: Strongsville and Berea. In 2020, Jessica found herself returning to Berea and becoming a first-time homeowner. Since Jessica’s return to Ohio, she has demonstrated a strong passion for local activism supporting issues and candidates, serving her school district’s JEDI efforts as a community leader, leading her local Democratic club as vice president, and being part of a local progressive grassroots leadership team.  

Jessica’s passion to give back to her community and her desire to represent District 17 on the Ohio House of Representatives is enhanced through her education and time in the foster system. In 2006, Jessica earned her BA in Mass Communication with a minor in Marketing from Cleveland State University while also being a student athletic and academic scholarship recipient. She attended USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, earned her MFA in 2010, and studied journalism at UCLA. Jessica began to work in the entertainment industry before suddenly being pulled into the world of poverty alleviation, higher education access, and basic needs advocacy. Over the years, Jessica has worked to merge her passion for entertainment and activism into a career in progressive media and activist organizing spaces to help create policies that can help make life easier for those around her pulling from her own experiences as a child in the foster care system.  

The Matriots are proud to endorse Jessica for Ohio House of Representatives, District 17, as well as her mission to make life better for her community.