Damone J Presley is the Coordinator of the Frogtown Rondo Action Network (FRAN). He was born and raised in the Rondo Community of Saint Paul, and is the proud father of ten children and grandfather of three. Damone is passionate about his involvement as the Community Founder and Director of Vision In Living Life (VILL) “Change is Possible”, a Building Healthy Lifestyle Leadership program. As part of this program, he developed a six-lesson curriculum that he teaches to youth ages 12-21.

Damone has seen many changes in the Rondo Community, both positive and negative, during his lifetime. The goal of FRAN is to get residents and community partners working together for the community to Strive, Thrive, and Prosper. In the VILL “Change is Possible” Building Healthy Lifestyle Leadership program, the Youth Leadership group, directed by Damone, has made great progress within the Rondo Community, including policy work that resulted in passing a bill for decreasing window signage.

Currently, he is working on policy change around tobacco sales that will prevent youth from getting access to tobacco products. Damone is a Public Speaker, Mentor, and Advocate for community issues that bring residents to the table to use their voices to better their community. He has worked with MPLS Urban League, Amicus , African American AIDS Task force, and Breaking Free. Damone has also worked in the health field and has a duel certification in training the trainer from the Saint Paul Red Cross.