Lonnell Matthews

Lonnell Matthews is the Juvenile Court Clerk of Metropolitan Nashville & Davidson County, elected to this position in 2018.12 He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, who grew up in the Bordeaux community and graduated from Martin Luther King Magnet High School.1 Matthews is an alumnus of Tennessee State University, where he studied Accounting and Business Law.1

Matthews has a long career in youth development, spanning over 19 years. He began at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, leading various youth empowerment programs.1 In 2007, at the age of 27, Matthews became the youngest African-American elected to Nashville's Metro Council, representing District 1.13 He served on the council for eight years until 2015, during which time he held positions such as Speaker Pro Tempore and chaired several committees.1

Prior to his current role, Matthews served as the District Executive Director of Youth Outreach at the YMCA and was appointed to Mayor Megan Barry's Administration in 2015.1 As Juvenile Court Clerk, his responsibilities include processing legal documents, maintaining records, collecting court costs and fines, and administering trust funds for minors.2

Matthews is committed to inspiring youth, building families, and strengthening communities.4 He is also involved with My Brother's Keeper Nashville as a coordinator and co-hosts a podcast.5