November of 2005, Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones made history by becoming the first black women to be elected to the City of Miami Commission in forty years. Representing a new generation of leaders, Commissioner Spence-Jones dedication to reclaiming and rebuilding her community is deeply rooted in placing public service over personal gain. Since being elected, the commissioner has worked tirelessly to begin to restore Miami’s most diverse and neglected neighborhoods in District 5.Which includes Model City, Overtown, Spring Gardens, Little Haiti, Lemon City, Wynwood, Buena Vista East and West .She is committed to making her community a place where one would be proud to live, work , play and learn.

Commissioner Spence-Jones believes that integrity and honesty is required to restore trust lost in city government. Mentored by former Miami-Dade Commissioner Dr. Barbara Carey-Shuler, she is no stranger to politics and understands the importance of building coalitions to move the agenda of District 5 to the next level. As a former staff member to Mayor Manny Diaz, Spence-Jones has many notable accomplishments which includes being instrumental in obtaining five million dollars to revitalize the Carver Theatre in the Model City area. She also spearheaded efforts to secure three million additional dollars of gap funding for the redevelopment of the old Winn Dixie site on MLK Blvd and 7th Ave. Her commitment to the community resulted in an investment of over one million dollars towards streetscape and façade improvements on MLK Blvd.

As City Commissioner, Spence-Jones is working hard to ensure that positive changes began to happen in the communities in which she serves. During her first year in office, Commissioner Spence-Jones partnered with Social Compact and Miami Dade Community College to conduct surveys of District 5 constituents through a campaign called Wake up Miami. The campaign results indicated that the top three concerns of area residents are: Affordable Housing, Economic Development and the overall improvement of the Quality of Life. Based on those results, Commissioner Spence-Jones implemented a clearly-defined plan focusing on several priorities.

Some of these priorities include: developing real affordable rental and homeownership projects for seniors, low-income and working families; providing support to small businesses, mentoring and transitioning homeless women into Habitat for Humanity housing and rental units , initiating streetscape projects to beautify the neighborhood and forming a collaborative effort with local businesses to train and employ District 5 residents.

As a Commissioner, she serves as the chairwomen of the Southeast Overtown/Park West & Omni Redevelopment District CRA’s and the City of Miami Commercial Solid Waste Management advisory committee. She is also a board member of the Performing Arts Center Trust.

Born and raised in Miami, Commissioner Spence-Jones attended Lorah Park Elementary in Brownsville and later graduated from North Miami High School. She later headed to North Florida to attend Tallahassee Community College.

Commissioner Spence-Jones is especially proud of being a wife and mother to her son Nathanial Jones Junior. Commissioner Spence-Jones and her husband Nathanial Jones live in Liberty City where they attend Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

Commissioner Spence-Jones can be reached at MSpence@ci.miami.fl.us.