Trayon White

Trayon White (born May 11, 1984) is an American Democratic politician, currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Ward 8 of the District of Columbia. Before entering politics, he worked as a grassroots organizer and activist in the communities he would later represent on the Council. He won election to the Council in 2016, his second attempt for the seat held by Marion Barry until Marion's death. Early life Trayon White was born May 11, 1984, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in a neighborhood in the Southeast, raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family. His family was extremely poor, and he sometimes went hungry or without clean clothes. Violence and drug dealing were common in his neighborhood, and at times he could not go outside due to the violence. In his early teens, White began living with his grandmother. He stole cars, and was arrested by the Metropolitan Police. He was not prosecuted, but his grandmother sent him to live with cousins to be raised. He spent the rest of his teen years living with them in an overcrowded apartment. One of White's teachers began mentoring him. When the teacher died in an automobile accident, White turned toward Christianity. His grades radically improved, and he participated in student government. He attended TechWorld Public Charter School for at least one year of high school before transferring to Ballou High School, where he graduated in 2002. White enrolled at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Maryland, in the fall of 2002. Each week, he returned to the District of Columbia to coach sports with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. White graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2006.