Ray Lewis, Deputy Mayor Of London, United Kingdom

BOOKERISTA PROFILE:

Yes, Imani and Tyrone, London now has a black conservative named Ray Lewis as a deputy mayor (hat tip: Narcissistic Views On News/Politics). More specficially Deputy Mayor for Young People, which will focus on tackling London's increased crime rate among young people and education issues. It was the very first appointment that Boris Johnson - the Conservative Party candidate who unseated incumbent Ken Livingston of the Labor Party in the mayoral election last week - did as the new mayor starting on Monday, citing crime reduction as his administration's top priority.

I am not surprised by this appointment. Longtime readers of Booker Rising may recall when I profiled Mr. Lewis's group, Eastside Young Leaders Academy - which focuses on the leadership potential and the academic success of disadvantaged black British boys, and is modeled after a similar program in Louisiana, USA - about 2 1/2 years ago. The former juvenile prison governor started the program after he saw the large numbers of black teenagers ending up in the criminal system.

Born in Guyana in 1963, Mr. Lewis grew up in suburban Walthamstow. He began his career working as an administrative officer for the Civil Service, before becoming a Clerk in Holy Orders for the Church Commissioners in 1990.

After working at HM Prison Woodhill, Mr. Lewis became Executive Director of Eastside Young Leaders' Academy in 2001. He is also a Trustee and Governor of the Petchey Academy in Hackney. His motto is: "We see no shortage of young black males in the courtrooms, so my vision is to seek to prepare as many as possible for the boardrooms."

Mr. Lewis is a Gold List nominee for the Conservative Party's slate of parliamentary candidates in the 2010 elections, so keep your eye on this bookerista.

Mr. Lewis is married, and has three daughters. He has a degree in Theology & Pastoral Studies from Middlesex University.