But this isn’t Jones’s first time being part of a milestone change. In 2015, the 40-year resident of Ferguson became the first black member of city council . According to her campaign biography, Jones has led a diverse career path from the beginning, too. She worked as a chemist and a church pastor before entering politics. “I’ve got work to do – because when you’re an African-American woman, they require more of you than they require of my counterpart,” Jones said shortly after her victory Tuesday night . “I know the people in Ferguson are ready to stabilize their community, and we’re going to work together to get it done.”