About Jon

Jonathan “Jon” Gray was born in Denver, Colorado. He attended Englewood High School, where he played basketball, and received a scholarship to play at Mesa State College. In college, he discovered his passion for creative writing and social justice and received his associate’s degree in Sociology from Mesa State University in 2004. Subsequently, he earned bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2012.

After receiving his degree, he continued his work in the non-profit sector, mentoring and advocating for underprivileged youth, working with organizations such as the National Commission for Criminal Justice (NCCJ), and Youth Celebrate Diversity (YCD).

Later, he became a substitute teacher for Kelly Educational Services, where he found his love of working with children and young adults. He was hired to work for Aurora Public Schools at Jamaica Child Development Center, where he became a lead preschool teacher for several years. He now works for Arapahoe County: Dept. of Human Services in the Finance division.

After working with students and their families during the pandemic, he saw how the community he worked in was highly underserved, and many families lacked the essential resources needed for daily survival. This inspired him to want to make a change in the community at large. He decided to switch careers, began attending CU Denver, and received his Master’s degree in Public Administration in 2022.

Jon is a lifelong learner and a forward-thinking individual. He now aims to make a change through his involvement in local politics.