John Jones III is a father of three and a third‑generation East Oakland resident whose lived experience shapes his work as a formerly incarcerated advocate, Consultant, Life Coach, and Subject Matter Expert. After spending eighteen months un‑sheltered and unemployed, he entered community organizing and advocacy, using his story of pain, trauma, faith, and transformation to empower young people and advance policy change.

John has contributed to local, regional, and statewide efforts, including work on ballot measures and critical programs and services. He served as an inaugural member of the Board of State and Community Corrections Prop 47 Executive Steering Committee and as an inaugural member—and later Chair—of the Selection Panel for the Oakland Police Commission.

As Director of the Fair Chance Housing Campaign, John successfully led policy efforts that secured groundbreaking ordinances in Oakland and Berkeley to remove housing barriers for formerly incarcerated people. His leadership has earned wide recognition, including the East Bay Express Dynamo for Justice Award (2016), the Equity Champion Honor from Assemblymember Rob Bonta (2016), the ACLU Paul Robeson Chapter’s Grover Dye Activism Award (2017), and the Hattie Mae Redford Award for Social Justice (2017). In 2018, the Mayor of Emeryville issued a City Proclamation honoring his contributions during Second Chance Month.

Most recently, John was recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists NorCal Chapter for Best Commentary/Analysis for his Op‑Ed on gun violence and was featured in the Peabody Award‑winning NBC Bay Area docuseries No Man’s Land, highlighting the challenges faced by single fathers.