The Architect of Excellence

I. Roots and the Lunn Matriarchy

Helen Mildred McDonald was born and raised on the Westside of Baltimore, the daughter of Mildred Lunn, the revered matriarch known to the city as "Mother Lunn." As the oldest sibling in her family, Helen was the first to carry the torch of Mother Lunn’s high expectations. She was raised in a home that served as a spiritual and civic hub, learning early on that leadership is a debt you owe to those who come after you. She inherited her mother’s grace and an uncompromising standard for community dignity, becoming the "Standard-Bearer" for the Lunn-McDonald legacy.

II. Educational Authority and The Administrative Mandate

Helen’s professional life was a masterclass in Educational Authority. She was a "Career Administrator," a tactical leader relied upon by the Baltimore City Public School (BCPS) system to stabilize and elevate schools across the city.

• The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (#122): As Assistant Principal at this landmark institution on West Preston Street, Helen was the guardian of a 100-year legacy of Black excellence. She ensured the school where Thurgood Marshall was educated remained a top-tier sanctuary for learning.

• Venable High School: She brought her veteran "No-Jive" grit to the high school level in Waverly, focusing on the high-stakes discipline required to move young adults into the world.

• City-Wide Impact: Helen's career spanned decades of veteran service. She was the "expert" the district relied on to mentor new teachers and dismantle "administrative jive." She believed that every building she entered belonged to the children, not the bureaucracy.

III. Strategic Leadership: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

In the world of Baltimore's "Divine Nine," Helen was a titan. Her commitment to Delta Sigma Theta (Baltimore Alumnae Chapter - BAC) was a mission of Power and Advocacy.

• High-Level Roles: She held prominent leadership positions, specifically driving Social Action and Educational Development.

• The Strategist: Helen was a key architect of the sorority's community outreach, organizing voter registration and scholarship fundraisers with the same precision she used to run a high school.

IV. The Philosophy: "Hard Work, Not Handouts"

Helen’s leadership was grounded in a philosophy of Self-Determination. She was a fierce advocate for helping others, but she was a staunch opponent of "handouts." She taught that nothing in life is given—it is earned through determination and hard work. Her life was proof that if you have the drive, you can use the resources you have to get the things you need.

Civic Duty

Beyond the classroom and the Delta sisterhood, Helen Mildred McDonald was a powerhouse for civic engagement in Baltimore City. As a dedicated leader in the League of Women Voters and a relentless advocate for voter rights, she organized countless registration drives and social action initiatives to ensure the voices of District 45 were never silenced. Her work was the blueprint for the "Strategic Leadership" we practice today—merging her professional expertise as a Career Administrator with a deep, lifelong commitment to political empowerment and community equity. 

V. The Matriarchal Succession: Raising a Leader

The most profound impact of Helen McDonald’s life was felt in her own home. She played the primary role in raising her oldest grandchild, Nichole McDonald.

• The Training Ground: Just as Mother Lunn trained Helen to be the leader of her siblings, Helen trained Nicole to be the leader of the next generation.

• The Legacy of the Household: Raising Nichole alongside Adolph McDonald and Rev. Juretha Joyner-Maiden, Helen poured her administrative wisdom, her "go-getter" spirit, and her discipline directly into her granddaughter.

The Candidate’s Connection

"I am the product of the high standards set by Helen and Adolph McDonald and Rev. Juretha Joyner-Maiden. I was raised at the feet of the Architect of Excellence and the Rebel Reformer themselves. My grandmother, Helen Mildred McDonald, and my grandfather, Adolph W. McDonald, didn't just give me a name—they gave me a mandate.

As their oldest grandchild, I was the first to learn their lessons of determination: that nothing is given, and that true advocacy means helping people help themselves. They taught me how to be a 'go-getter'—how to take the resources we have and turn them into the results we need.

I am running for District 45 because I am the product of the excellence of Helen and Adolph McDonald and the moral compass of Rev. Juretha Joyner-Maiden. I am not looking for a handout from the state; I am looking to reclaim the resources that belong to our people so they can thrive. I am Nichole McDonald, and I’m here to lead with the strength my grandparents built in me."

Rebel Reformer

The Foundations & Community Presence

Adolph McDonald was born and raised in West Baltimore, coming of age in a city defined by both Black excellence and systemic struggle. He was a visible pillar of the community, described in local records as a "fixture" on the streets he served. He was a "goalpost" for the neighborhood—a reliable, unmoving point of strength that people looked to for guidance and stability. He did not lead from a distance; he led from the front, where his neighbors could see him every single day.

Fraternal Leadership: Omega Psi Phi (Pi Omega Chapter)

Adolph’s identity was inseparable from his leadership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. As a distinguished Life Member of the Pi Omega Chapter, he lived the four cardinal principles: Manhood, Scholarship, Perseverance, and Uplift.

• The Power of the "Que": Within the fraternity, he sat on key committees, including Social Action and the Scholarship fund. He used the "Que" network to bridge the gap between Baltimore’s professional class and the people on the street.

• Easterwood Recreation Center: His leadership was most visible at Easterwood, where he was a driving force in keeping the center active for the youth. He was a constant presence, mentoring young men and ensuring the next generation had a safe, structured place to grow.

The Educator and Advocate

Adolph dedicated over 20 years to the classroom as a Special Education Specialist at Lakeland Elementary Middle School. He focused his career on the students the system often overlooked. At Lakeland, he also served as the Union Liaison, acting as the direct link between classroom teachers and the city-wide labor organization.

The Civil Rights Alliance

As a leader in the NAACP Baltimore Branch, Adolph formed a powerful, lifelong bond with Walter P. Carter. Together, they operated during the peak of Baltimore’s civil rights era. Adolph provided the "Labor" muscle to Carter’s "Civil Rights" movement, coordinating voter registration drives and rallies along the North Avenue corridor. They were the architects of a united front that demanded respect for Black Baltimoreans in both the workplace and the voting booth.

The Union Rebel

His career reached a historic peak in his work with the Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) and the Maryland Federation of Teachers.

• The Organizer: As a Field Representative, he traveled the entire region, organizing workers and fighting for fair contracts.

• The 1974 Strike: He was a key leader in the 21-day strike that proved teachers would not be bullied by the establishment.

• The 1996 "Rebel" Run: In a final act of accountability, he ran for BTU President as a challenger to the status quo. He filed a landmark lawsuit to expose financial mismanagement, fighting to stop $200,000 "insider" annuities so that money could go back to the teachers and the students.

The Legacy Connection

I grew up watching a man who was always there—a steady goalpost for the community. He taught me that Fraternal Leadership means being a servant to the neighborhood first. I am running for District 45 to be that same steady presence. Just like my grandfather at the Pi Omega house or the Easterwood Rec Center, I am on the ground, fighting for the families the system tries to leave behind.

The Ambassador of Love

I. Roots and Spiritual Foundation

Juretha Z. Joyner was born into the prominent Joyner family of Baltimore, the daughter of Leslie and Myrtle Joyner. From her earliest days, she was recognized as "special"—a woman possessed of a rare combination of intellectual sharp-wittedness and deep, empathetic grace. She was raised with the understanding that her voice was a gift meant to be used for the uplift of others. This foundational upbringing turned her into a woman who was equally respected in the halls of academia and the sanctuaries of the church.

II. Educational Authority: The Special Education Specialist

Juretha dedicated her professional life to the children of Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), specifically those who were often "left behind" by the system.

• The "Love Connection": During her tenure at John Eager Howard Elementary (School #61), she became legendary for what she called "The Love Connection." She believed that you cannot teach a child’s head until you have captured their heart.

• Special Education Mastery: As a Special Education Teacher, she worked with students who faced the greatest challenges. She was not just an instructor; she was an advocate who refused to let any child be written off by the state. She treated her classroom as a mission field, ensuring that every student felt seen, valued, and capable of excellence.

• Respected Educator: Her peers and the parents of District 45 knew her as a woman of immense patience and professional standard. She was the teacher that families prayed their children would get.

III. Spiritual Authority: The Reverend and Evangelist

Juretha’s influence reached its peak in her role as a Reverend and Evangelist. She was a high-level leader within the Connectional AME Church, specifically at Payne Memorial AME.

• The Fire in the Pulpit: As a licensed Reverend and a sought-after Evangelist, she was known for a preaching style that was both intellectually rigorous and spiritually healing. She didn't just preach the Gospel; she lived it through her service.

• The Community Counselor: People traveled from across the city to seek her counsel. She was a "Pastor to the Pastorless," a woman whose door was always open to those in crisis. Her reputation for spiritual integrity made her one of the most respected female clergy members in Baltimore.

IV. The Matriarch of Compassion: Raising a Leader

The most vital work of Rev. Juretha’s life was the role she played in raising her oldest grandchild, Nichole McDonald.

• The Moral Compass: Alongside Helen and Adolph McDonald, Juretha was the primary architect of Nichole’s character. She taught Nichole that true leadership is rooted in Compassion and Accountability.

• The Training: She trained Nichole to look for the "Left Behind" in every room. She taught her that the measure of a leader is how they treat those who can do nothing for them in return.

The Candidate’s Connection

I am the product of the high standards set by Helen and Adolph McDonald and the unwavering moral compass of Rev. Juretha Joyner-Maiden.

My grandmother, Juretha, was the 'Ambassador of Love' for Baltimore. She taught me at John Eager Howard #61 that you have to connect before you can correct. She showed me, through her work in Special Education, that every life has value and every voice deserves to be heard.

As her oldest grandchild, I carry her spiritual fire and her professional heart. I am running for District 45 to bring 'The Love Connection' to our government. I am not just looking to pass bills; I am looking to heal our community and protect our most vulnerable children, just like she did. I am Nichole McDonald, and I am the continuation of Rev. Juretha Joyner-Maiden’s mission of love and justice.