If there is one story that could describe the heart of serving Manassas, it might be penned by Dheeraj “DJ” Jagadev.

The longtime resident of the city and current educator at Osbourn High School, Jagadev is running in the Democratic primary for the Manassas City Council. Recently he spoke with the PW Perspective about making the transition from educator to campaigning, and lessons he has learned along the way.

He stated that he didn’t exactly enter the race through the traditional methods.”It didn’t naturally grow into this role; I would say that just from my exposure from the previous times I was hoping to get on the council,” said Jagadev. “Ralph [Smith] was selected to the council a few years ago, and I was one finalist. That got me interested, and I told the council that I was actually interested in running elections instead. I give [Vice Mayor] Pam [Sebesky] and others like [City Councilman] Tom Osina a lot of credit; they saw something in the way I talked about issues and encouraged me to run.”

Although running for the council is a new position, DJ has a long track record when it comes to serving in Manassas, including being appointed the Precinct Elections Chief at Haydon. “I’ve always involved in the city in some capacity, I just never thought it would be running for office. Currently, I’m on the planning commission, and it is something I’ve always been involved in.”

He credits his family for teaching him about giving back to the community, particularly his grandfather. “My parents and especially my grandfather had a great influence on my life. He always said that we should advocate for others. When he said he walked ten miles to school as a child, he actually did it [laughs]. He did a great service at the Indian railways.”

Another situation that sparked his desire to run came from the societal changes that occurred in 2020. “People like me have never had the chance to speak our mind in a public forum, especially in the aftermath of the second Freedom Summer, it felt like someone had to take a stand, and it was something that I pursued.”

Speaking of pursuits, he explains what life is like as a teacher. “Being a teacher, I don’t think of it as a career, it’s a calling and a privilege. There’s no escaping what the kids are bringing into the classroom, especially after the last two years. It gives me the opportunity to engage with both students and their parents. There are still a lot of challenges, and I understand what they’re dealing with. Growing up in this area and having to go to school on a reduced lunch program, I can empathize with their situations, and bring that to the forefront.”

While being an educator has given him an understanding of the community, he states that there are many challenges that need to be faced. “We need more services translated in Spanish, and just that for the basic access, and part of it is government being pro-active. If it involves having more listening sessions in the community, then that’s what it takes.”

“One of the biggest challenges I’ve heard in the classroom is lack of access to mental health services,” he continued. “When you dig deep, you’re talking about most times the immigrant community there are some traumas that haven’t been unpacked, sometimes generationally. This is especially when you’re coming into a new country, and not always feeling welcome. There needs to be more opportunities to allow the community to deal with the emotional pain.”

“I was the student advisor at Osbourn (High School) but once I stepped in the classroom in October, it was a shock to my system. The pandemic didn’t break anything, it simply exposed it. A lot of students had to work because their parents had lost jobs, and while there has been congressional relief, there was still more to be done, especially here in Manassas. Having been in the classroom, it made me a better candidate because I’m now bringing with me a better understanding of advocating for the community, because I know their needs.”

Knowing their needs has made it easier for him to transition from teacher to candidate, especially from his closest supporters. “I’ve been able to do it with the support of my family, and my empathy for my students comes from having a nine-year-old that is on the spectrum. My wife has been a godsend, and I share my home with my parents, so there’s a lot of generations there to draw strength from.”

Although he is well known in the community for his work on the commission and in the classroom, he still wants to reach those who may not know him.

“I’m tailor made for this moment. I come from an academic perspective, from working with other projects in the city, so I already have been doing the hard work. Now I come in from the public school system, as a parent and employee, so educational framework is important to me. I am in this moment in time to bring a vision to Manassas. Housing affordability, public education, and public safety, especially when it relates to our city, is important to me.”

“What I know from my time serving on the planning commission, there are ways to mitigate that, to make zoning ordinances work. We’re not talking about changing the historic character of the city, but to make sure existing projects in the city come up to code. Manassas weathered the recession side of things, as we are a very resilient community. Also, my background as an immigrant, and being able to relate to so many people has been an advantage for me.”

“As you see this region change in growth to become more diverse, we will be able to meet the needs with a multiple framework plan.”

So how would he sum up his story of service to the city? “Someone who is ready to meet the moment with the skillset that is fine tuned for local governance but with the necessary empathy for our residents, especially for those in need.”

Early voting begins on May 6 with the primary vote scheduled for June 21. Other candidates include Robert Keller, Ralph Smith, and Sonia Vasquez Luna. Follow DJ’s website for more details.