Emmett V. Jordan is an incumbent member of the City Council, currently serving his fourth term as “Mayor.” A resident of Greenbelt for 24 years, Emmett relocated to work with the University of Maryland in 1998. He soon moved to Greenbriar Condominiums, attracted by the convenient location and the many recreational amenities of Greenbelt. In 2009, he became the first African-American elected to serve on the Council.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he studied liberal arts and music at Morehouse College and at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Administration. He completed additional graduate coursework in Public Administration at Seton Hall University. Emmett participated in the UMD Legacy Leadership Institute on Municipal Government in 2009 and completed an Academy for Excellence in Local Governance Fellowship in 2011. He frequently attends workshops and conferences to learn about issues affecting Greenbelt.belt.
Emmett V. Jordan 2020 Interview - Mary Harrison Show
Jordan has worked hard to develop productive relationships with leaders from neighboring municipalities, the County, and our State and Federal delegations. These relationships provide a platform to advocate for Greenbelt. He is a current board member of the National League of Cities, the Maryland Municipal League, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. He is a past President of the Prince George’s County Municipal Association.
Career
Emmett's career provides him with over 25 years of experience in project management: planning and implementing capacity-building programs for nonprofits. Since 2005, he has worked as an independent contractor, providing professional services focused on marketing, communications, strategic planning, and fund development.
He has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution, University of Maryland at College Park, Plainfield Neighborhood Health Center, and the United Negro College Fund.
Values
Emmett dedicates many hours to civic and volunteer initiatives. He's been a member of the Human Service Coalition of Prince George’s County and often engaged with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations and the Center for Nonprofit Advancement. He has volunteered for the United Way of Prince George’s County, The DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. From 2000 to 2005, he co-chaired the Urban Roundtable, an auxiliary group for the Greater Washington Urban League (GWUL).
Volunteerism and community service have always been significant values in Emmett’s family. Raised in the progressive tradition of the Unitarian Church by an educator and a social service administrator, he occasionally attends Reid Temple AME Church. He also supports various community events and fundraisers for local congregations in Greenbelt.
Community Service in Greenbelt
As a council member, Emmett has served as liaison to the city’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, Advisory Planning Board (APB), Community Relations Advisory Board, and Greenbelt Access Television (GATE). He represents Greenbelt on committees of several regional and national organizations, including the Maryland Municipal League, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the National League of Cities.
Emmett has been a member of the Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt Democratic Club since 2004, where he now serves as Treasurer. Since 2011, he has represented the 22nd Legislative. He also worked as a Prince George’s County Election Judge (in College Park) from 2004 to 2008.
Before 2009, Emmett was part of the city’s Advisory Planning Board, leading the creation of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Greenbelt. He has chaired the Greenbelt Community Foundation Board, been a member of the Greenbriar Condominiums Association Phase I Board, and co-chaired the Urban Roundtable (for GWUL) from 2000 to 2005. Emmett also volunteers occasionally with the Greenbelt Farmers Market and Greenbelt Intergenerational Volunteer Exchange and has been both a member and co-chair of the Greenbelt Tennis Association.
In his leisure, Emmett likes to attend concerts, art exhibitions, and cultural programs. He enjoys the "quality of life" amenities in Greenbelt and the broader Baltimore/Washington region. A few of his favorite pastimes include spending time around Greenbelt, plays tennis, bicycling, and playing the guitar.