Jami Cox Antwi is a third-generation native of St. Louis, Missouri. At the age of 14, she lost a former classmate to gun violence. This devastating event ignited her passion for activism at a young age. She established a grassroots organization dedicated to eradicating gang violence in her neighborhood. Her vision was to create a safer and more prosperous community, where people felt secure and could thrive. Jami believed that the path to change began with improving her own neighborhood. She transformed her childhood activism into meaningful action, becoming a committed community developer and advocate focused on strengthening neighborhoods.

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After proudly graduating from Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School, Jami received a scholarship to attend Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy Studies. Her studies centered on housing and urban development policy. Growing up, no one in her family had ever owned a home, and this was a common experience in her neighborhood. Jami personally witnessed how effective policy could serve as a catalyst for positive change.

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While in college, Jami interned in the Office of Congresswoman Yvette Clark (NY - D9) during the 114th Congress under President Barack Obama. Here, she tackled legislative issues related to affordable housing, urban development, and speechwriting. Her experiences extended to foreign affairs and small business policy. Later, she interned at the U.S. Department of Commerce. During her college years, she also became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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In 2018, Jami received a prestigious Schwarzman Scholarship, enabling her to live in Beijing, China, and earn a Master's Degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in Economics and Business. While living overseas, she observed the vibrant neighborhoods of Beijing. She realized that their vitality stemmed from a thriving entrepreneurial economy. It wasn't just big corporations, but also small businesses that formed the backbone of the community.

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Jami returned home, still motivated by her childhood vision. Drawing from her knowledge of urban development policy, Jami pursued a career in development finance. In 2019, she assumed the role of Chair of the Rise Young Professionals board, leading a team of young professionals dedicated to advocating for access to affordable housing. At the age of 24, she became a member of the Board of Directors. In 2021, Jami was nominated to become the Policy Chair of Reform St. Louis, an initiative aimed at implementing ethics policy and redistricting reform within the Board of Alderpersons. Jami has amassed an extensive background in public policy and neighborhood development. Presently, Jami works in community development finance and serves as the chair of the Economic Vitality committee of Delmar Main Street, a local chapter of Missouri Main Street. In this capacity, she leads committee efforts to provide resources to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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Jami lives in south-city with her husband, Jason, and their rescue cats, Simone and Pumbaa. Her vision for the 78th district revolves around uplifting the twelve communities within it. Jami is running for the Missouri House of Representatives, driven by her commitment to creating safer, more robust communities through strong leadership in Jefferson City. She fears that vision won’t be realized if the state of Missouri is not strong. She hopes the people of the 78th district will place their trust in her to be their advocate.