CLEVELAND — Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell is breaking barriers. The Cleveland suburb was established in 1915 and in 2016 Blackwell became the first woman and the first African American to be elected mayor.

“Wall of mayors. This is our history,” Blackwell said while walking through the mayor’s court in city hall that features a photo of every mayor in Maple Heights’ history.

Blackwell is the 16th mayor of Maple Heights, a city that is more than a century old. 

“There’s a dash here because my term is yet to be determined,” said Blackwell while pointing to her picture on the wall.

Blackwell is in her second year of her second term.

“Gets emotional for me still,” she said.

And while some believe you stand on the shoulders of those who come before you, Blackwell said she stands apart.

“I hope that I’m symbolic of the present and the future that everybody belongs,” she said.

Blackwell was born in Alabama when her mother was only 16. At age 2, she moved to Cleveland and has called Maple Heights home since 1997.

“I love Maple Heights. I really do,” she said.

The current CEO of the city grew up poor in a family of sharecroppers.

“Little shack. Front door. Back door. Two rooms on the side. Out house down the road,” she said while describing her childhood home.

Maple Heights is home to about 23,000 people and the city has a reputation.

“Dark, dirty, and dangerous,” said Blackwell. 

But Blackwell sees beauty and opportunity.

“If I’m going to have the kind of success that I know Maple Heights is capable of, I got to stabilize the lives,” said Blackwell.

As a mother and grandmother, Black infant mortality, safe affordable housing, and education are some of her top priorities.

“I realize intimately it’s an honor and a privilege. Because if I don’t get this right, they’ll probably never elect another woman or person of color again,” said Blackwell.

Being released from fiscal emergency in 2020 by climbing out of the city’s massive debt is one of her proudest accomplishments since taking office.

“I’m just so proud of you,” Blackwell said to the Finance Director Tinita Tillman, while looking at the Senatorial Citation hanging outside Tillman’s office. “This is was what we both came here to do.” 

Ever since she was a little girl, Blackwell desired a position of power and influence. At one point she wanted to be a TV journalist. Later on, she was drawn to social work. Eventually, she landed on becoming a businesswoman. 

“Men wear red ties. I wear a red blazer. To be very, very clear of the power I know that I have,” said Blackwell.

She worked her way up the corporate ladder at big institutions like University Hospitals, KeyBank, and Deloitte for decades.

But of course, today she is serving in local government. Former Mayor Jeffrey Lansky encouraged her to run for mayor.

“My passage to get here was very different, but I’m just as capable and I deserve to be here,” she said.

Inspiring women in her life empowered her to dream big and she feels her life story so far has been one of people along the way believing in her and opening up doors. Doors that once she walked through, she’d command the room.

“That’s been my journey. Champions all along,” said Blackwell.

This mayor hopes other women will use their imagination to reach high, and then aim even higher.

“Women lead with their hearts, with their strength, and with a confidence that we have fought and won and earned,” said Blackwell.