Adolph Mongo
BIOGRAPHY
Adolph Mongo was born on January 15, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan. He was raised in Royal Oak Township and attended Oak Park public schools. Over twenty-eight years of professional experience as a journalist, political strategist, media consultant and urban education recruitment expert. Range of experience includes creating strategies for candidates running for political offices, school district student enrollment efforts and companies looking to promote positive images in the community.
It is said that a professional is the sum of all his experiences. While still in high school, a time when many are changing their views almost every hour, Mongo had strong opinions that he voiced at any and every opportunity. He believes in balance, equality and justice. While a junior at Oak Park High he served as managing editor of his high school newspaper, Eagle American. Mongo was the first African American to hold the coveted position.
In 1972 he earned the WJR Scholarship in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following graduation Mongo joined the U.S Marine Corps Reserves and graduated from the U.S Defense Information School of Photo Journalism.
In January 1984 Mongo became the City of Detroit Deputy Director of Public Information for the Honorable Mayor Coleman Young, making his debut into the professional political arena. He held that office until September 1991.
Mongo’s unique qualifications, experience and insight make him the best choice to develop and stimulate political candidates. With offices in Detroit, MI and Washington, D.C, he is available to develop customized campaign strategies that have success all over them.
Today, as a political consultant with over fifty successful political campaigns to his credit, Mongo is also a skillful strategist and writer, he possesses a unique ability to whittle away the window- dressing and speak to the core of an issue. Mongo provides extensive scope of services to business, government agencies, elected officials, educational organizations, school districts and public academics.
He is frequently appears in several newspapers, television talk shows, and radio talk shows including: The Colorado Springs Sun, Fredrick News Post , South Haven Daily Tribune, The Michigan Chronicle, The Detroit News: “On Detroit” Section, Detroit Public TV, USA Today, “Off the Record”- PBS, Newsweek, “Let It Rip” WJBK FOX 2, “Flash Point” WDIV-NBC Affiliate, “American Black Journal”-PBS, “Talk of the Town”-WMXD-Clear Channel Radio, “Spotlight in the News”- ABC Affiliate, “The Frank Beckman Show”-ABC radio, “Frankie Darcell Uncut”-WMXD 92.3FM, WGPR 107.9FM, WHPR 88.1FM, WCHB 1200-RadioOne among others.
Mongo is a contributing columnist to Black Parent Magazine, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, The Michigan Chronicle , The Michigan Citizen, Royal Oak Tribune, Upscale Magazine and more.
Some of his political clients include Kim Worthy, Geoffrey Figer, Dan Blue, Kwame Kilpatrick, Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly, Judge Karen Fort Hood, JoAnn Watson, Coleman Young, Barbara Rose Collins,
AFFLICATIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICE
American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) International Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter of AAPC- Founding board member Former Board member of the Michigan Young Democrats Project Upward Bound- Tutor Counselor Oakland University Highland Park Community School District Book Drive
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
1980 Deputy Treasurer – Royal Oak Township 1983 Education and Job Specialist – Detroit Urban League 1984 City of Detroit Deputy Director of Public Information 1991 Owner and Senior Consultant of Adolph Mongo & Associates, Inc.
ACADEMIC DEGREES, CERTIFICATION’S & AWARDS
1972 Oak Park High School 1972 University of Michigan- WJR Journalism Scholarship 1975 Pathfinder Award- Oakland University 1976 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI – BGS History & Journalism 1976 Oakland University Rochester, MI - Upward Bound Bridge Program 1977 United States Defense Information School Indianapolis, IN 1977- 1986 Military Service: US Marine Corp Reserves San Diego, CA 1999 Wayne State University Detroit, MI- MA Labor History
TIMELINE
SEPTEMBER 1971 Became first African American Managing Editor of Oak Park High School’s newspaper, Eagle America, As editor, Mongo found a means by which to make his voice heard and bring balance to school issues between the students regardless of their race.
MAY 1972 Awarded All State Class A Honor for Oak Park High School’s 880-Relay, gaining the respect and attention of his classmates and colleagues.
JUNE 1972 Awarded the WJR Scholarship in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Michigan and continued on his quest for knowledge and enlightenment.
FEBRUARY 1972 Mongo publishes CHAMPIONS High School Sports Magazine, the first magazine in the country to focus on high school sports
1977 Colorado Springs Sun- Education reporter
1978 Mongo joins the US Marine Corps Reserves, graduating from US Defense Information School with a certificate in photo- journalism.
1980 Mongo works as a News Post Staff writer and Fredrick News Post writer
1981 General assignment reporter for The South Haven Daily Tribune
1983-1984 Mongo writes for the Michigan Chronicle. Mongo wrote a weekly column on a wide rang of topics, some of which were titled “Equality Now”, “Enough is Enough” and “Black Press Must Stop Racist Actions”.
1984-1991 Mongo was appointed Deputy Director of Public Information for the Mayor Coleman Young. In charge of giving information to the public that was not being dispensed by the mainstream media. Mongo served as a liaison between the black news outlets and the mayor’s office. He was responsible for department budgets, supervised city print shop and help coordinate major city events such as “No Crime Day” and “Devil’s Night Arson Prevention Week”.
1991 Founded Adolph Mongo & Associates, Inc. First candidates include Brenda Scott for Detroit City Council, Jeanne Stempien for Wayne County Circuit Court Judge. Both candidates were successful.
1997 Upscale Magazine- Upfront Informer Section. Article written by Mongo on the current state of the expanding businesses and the increase in new construction jobs for African American owned businesses. Reprinted from February 1997 Michigan Chronicle.
1997-2002 Political Columnist –On Detroit Section (The Detroit News). Mongo wrote about the changes facing the city of Detroit, its political leaders and residents.
NOVEMBER 2000 A quote in GQ Magazine from Geoffrey Figer. “Mongo is the key political operative in Detroit if you want something to happen in Detroit-Democraticwise-you had better get Adolph Mongo!”
OCTOBER 2001 Mongo became a member of the American Association of Political Consultants.
NOVEMBER 2001 Attended the 34th World Conference on Civilization and Democracy in Malta and became a member of the International Association of Political Consultants.
APRIL 2003 Adolph Mongo & Associates, Inc. has always been a fighter for the underdog. In 2003, Mongo & Associates, Inc. managed to pull the upset of the decade by representing underdog candidate JoAnn Watson to victory over longtime Council President Gil Hill.
SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS. DIRECT. EDGY. TOUGH.
ADOLPH MONGO, WARRIOR FOR THE PEOPLE.