Andrea Jenkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andrea Jenkins
President of the Minneapolis City Council
In office January 10, 2022 – January 8, 2024
Vice President	Linea Palmisano
Preceded by	Lisa Bender
Succeeded by	Elliott Payne
Vice President of the Minneapolis City Council
In office January 6, 2018 – January 10, 2022
President	Lisa Bender
Preceded by	Elizabeth Glidden
Succeeded by	Linea Palmisano
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 8th Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2018
Preceded by	Elizabeth Glidden
Personal details
Born	(1961-05-10) May 10, 1961 (age 64) Chicago, Illinois
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Education	University of Minnesota Metropolitan State University (BA) Hamline University (MFA) Southern New Hampshire University (MS)

Andrea Jenkins (born May 10, 1961) is an American politician, writer, artist, and activist for transgender rights. She made history as the first Black openly transgender woman elected to public office in the United States. She has served on the Minneapolis City Council since January 2018 and was the council's president from January 2022 to January 2024.

Jenkins moved to Minnesota in 1979 to attend the University of Minnesota. She worked for the Hennepin County government for ten years. Later, she spent 12 years working for the Minneapolis City Council. Before running for office, she also worked as a curator for the Transgender Oral History Project at the University of Minnesota.

Early Life and Education

Andrea Jenkins was born in 1961 and grew up in North Lawndale, Chicago. She has shared that she came from a "low-income, working-class community." Her mother, Shirley Green, raised her and made sure she got a good education.

When she was younger, she was part of the Cub Scouts. She also played football at Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy. In 1979, she moved to Minneapolis to study at the University of Minnesota.

In her 20s, Jenkins got married and became a parent. At age 30, she began to live as a woman. She went back to college to finish her bachelor's degree from Metropolitan State University. After that, she earned two master's degrees. One was an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University. The other was an MS in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University. While studying, she worked as a counselor for the Hennepin County government. In 2018, Jenkins completed a special program for leaders at Harvard University.

Career in Public Service

Working for Local Government

Jenkins worked as a vocational counselor for Hennepin County for ten years. In 2001, Robert Lilligren, who was running for the Minneapolis City Council, asked Jenkins to join his campaign. After he won, Jenkins worked as his main assistant for four years.

In 2005, Elizabeth Glidden was elected to the City Council. She hired Jenkins as an aide because of Jenkins's strong connections in the community. While working for Glidden, Jenkins received a special fellowship focused on transgender issues. She helped create the Transgender Issues Work Group in 2014. That same year, she organized a City Council meeting to discuss issues faced by transgender people in Minnesota.

In 2015, after 12 years as a policy aide, Jenkins started working at the University of Minnesota. She became the curator for the Transgender Oral History Project (TOHP). This project collects and saves the stories of transgender individuals. Jenkins's role was to expand the collection by recording many hours of interviews.

Serving on the Minneapolis City Council

In December 2016, Andrea Jenkins announced she would run for the Minneapolis City Council. She wanted to represent Minneapolis's 8th Ward. The person who held the seat, Elizabeth Glidden, decided not to run again. Jenkins's campaign slogan was "Leadership. Access. Equity." She also helped start Trans United Fund, a group that supports transgender candidates.

On November 7, 2017, Jenkins won the election with over 70% of the votes. She was one of three Black council members elected that year. Shortly after her election, her fellow council members chose her as the vice president of the City Council. She also became the chair of the new Race Equity Subcommittee. She helped create a Racial Equity Community Advisory Committee, made up of city residents.

The 8th Ward that Jenkins represents includes the area where George Floyd died in May 2020. After this event, Jenkins initially supported changes to the Minneapolis Police Department. However, after a rise in shootings, she later stated that the police should continue their work. She also said Minneapolis should focus on creating more schools, housing, and other services to help prevent crime.

Jenkins was reelected to the Minneapolis City Council in November 2021. On January 10, 2022, she was unanimously voted City Council President. She is not running for reelection in 2025 and plans to retire after her current term.

Vehicle Blocking Incident

On June 27, 2021, Jenkins was involved in an incident at a Pride parade in downtown Minneapolis. A group of activists blocked the car she was riding in for several hours. They presented a list of demands for her to sign. These demands included dropping charges against protesters and calling for the mayor's resignation. After Jenkins signed the agreement, the activists allowed the car to move. Jenkins later stated that she felt she was held against her will during the incident.

Media Recognition and Awards

In 2010, Jenkins received a grant from the Jerome Foundation and Pillsbury House Theater. She used it to create an art piece called "Body Parts: Reflections on Reflections."

Jenkins was featured on the cover of Time magazine on January 29, 2018. The article was about the many women who ran for public office in 2017 and 2018.

In June 2020, Queerty magazine named her one of fifty heroes. This was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ pride parade. She was recognized for "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people." In 2022, she was also included in the Fast Company Queer 50 list.

Personal Life

Andrea Jenkins is a performance artist, poet, and writer. She is a grandmother, and her own mother lives in Ward 8. She has been with her partner for eight years. In 2018, Jenkins was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

She has been active in the Trans Lives Matter movement. She also chaired the board of Intermedia Arts. In 2015, Jenkins was the grand marshal of the Twin Cities Pride Parade. She has said that leaders like Barack Obama, Harold Washington, and Jesse Jackson inspired her to get involved in politics.

See also

• 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest
• Police abolition movement in Minneapolis
• List of transgender public officeholders in the United States