Priscilla R. Tyson

(Chair: Finance; Health & Human Services; Workforce Development; and Ad Hoc Assignments Committees)

Committee Member of: Veterans' Affairs;  Development; Recreation & Parks; and Small & Minority Business Development Committees.

A dedicated leader and lifelong resident of Columbus, Priscilla R. Tyson joined Columbus City Council in January of 2007. As a member of City Council, she has developed an enduring passion for safe neighborhoods, sound economic development practices, and quality recreational opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors.  Her role as chair of the Finance Committee has positioned her to champion, support, and lead on many of these issues.  

Councilmember Tyson is a leader on these and other important issues at the national level. She serves as a member of the Community and Economic Development Steering Committee of the National League of Cities (NLC), which is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. She is also a board member of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), an affiliate organization of NLC.

Since joining Columbus City Council, Ms. Tyson has established numerous initiatives. In 2007, she started her neighborhood Walk & Talk program, an initiative that seeks direct feedback from the community while promoting an active and healthy lifestyle through walking. Additional initiatives include the Landscape Enhancement/Beautification of Public Spaces Grant, and Operation Safe and Secure. She also worked with the Community Relations Commission (CRC) to update the Columbus Civil Rights Code. These updates now extend basic human rights and anti-discrimination protections to a larger number of residents.  The updated code now includes protections for persons on the basis of age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, familial status, and military status. 

Councilmember Tyson has been dedicated to public service and giving back to her community throughout her entire career. She was Executive Director Emeritus for City Year Columbus, which she founded in 1994.  City Year empowers young people while teaching them about leadership and civic engagement.

Concurrently, from 1993 until 2006, she served as a member of the Columbus Civil Service Commission, where she helped ensure that potential city employees were sufficiently qualified for employment. 

Councilmember Tyson is an enthusiastic leader in the arts. Prior to joining Council, she played a vital role as a member of its Creative Arts Steering Committee, and contributed to the creation of the report, "The Creative Economy: Leveraging the Arts, Culture and Creative Community for a Stronger Columbus."  

Today her commitment to the creative community and culture continues as a member of the board of the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC), and as president of Star Arts Gallery Limited. In addition to her activities with Columbus City Council and Star Arts, Councilmember Tyson is the proud mother of five children. 

Professionally, Councilmember Tyson has served as Vice President of Community Relations at Ohio Health and Vice President of Community Development at National City. She has served on the boards of Phoenix Theatre Circle, the National Black Programming Consortium, Opera Columbus, and the Community Shelter Board, as well as on the Hospice Board of Grant/Riverside Methodist Hospital. 

Councilmember Tyson has been honored with the prestigious YWCA Women of Achievement Award and the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Award of Excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree from Franklin University.