Blondell Reynolds Brown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blondell Reynolds Brown
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the at-large district
In office January 3, 2000 – January 6, 2020
Preceded by	Augusta Clark
Succeeded by	Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Personal details
Born	(1952-10-16) October 16, 1952 (age 72) Sumter, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Penn State University

Blondell Reynolds Brown (born October 16, 1952) is an American politician who served on the Philadelphia City Council. The City Council is a group of leaders who make laws and decisions for the city of Philadelphia.

Reynolds Brown was an "at-large" member of the council. This means she represented the entire city, not just one neighborhood. For 16 years, from 1999 to 2015, she was the only woman serving in an at-large seat. In 2012, she was chosen as the council's Majority Whip, an important leadership role.

Early Life and Career

From South Carolina to Philadelphia

Blondell Reynolds Brown was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on October 16, 1952. She was the oldest of seven children. Her mother, Sadie, was a schoolteacher, and her father, Whittimore, worked in construction.

She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1970. She then went to Penn State University, where she earned two degrees. First, she got a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Then, she earned a Master of Science degree in education, focusing on counseling. After college, she became an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia.

A Career in Dance

In 1976, Reynolds Brown followed another passion: professional dancing. She became a company member of the famous Philadelphia Dance Company, also known as Philadanco. Even after she stopped performing, she stayed involved with the company. She taught dance classes and served on its board for 20 years.

Entering the World of Politics

Blondell Reynolds Brown's political career began in the 1980s. She started by working for her local community. Later, she worked for important politicians like State Senator Chaka Fattah and State Senator Vincent Hughes. In these roles, she helped write laws and worked with different communities.

She also represented her party at the Democratic National Convention five times. This is a big meeting where party members choose their candidate for President of the United States.

Serving on the Philadelphia City Council

Reynolds Brown was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in 1999 and served for 20 years. She focused on helping women and children, improving education, supporting the arts, and helping small businesses grow. She also became a leader on environmental issues.

Important Laws and Projects

During her time on the council, Reynolds Brown helped pass many important laws. Here are some of her key achievements:

• Fund for Children: When new sports stadiums were being built, she helped make a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles. The teams agreed to donate money every year for 30 years. This created a special fund to help children in the city.
• Healthy Menus: She passed a law that required big chain restaurants to put nutrition information on their menus. This helps people see how many calories, fat, and sugar are in their food.
• Green Roofs: She created a tax credit to encourage people to build "green roofs." These are roofs covered with plants, which can help the environment by saving energy and managing rainwater.
• More Recycling Bins: To help keep the city clean, she passed a law that required businesses selling food to have trash and recycling bins nearby.
• Bike Sharing Program: She helped bring a citywide bike-sharing program to Philadelphia. This allows people to rent bikes for short trips around the city.
• Support for Women: She created the Commission for Women. This group works to make sure women in Philadelphia have fair opportunities in life and work.
• Protecting People from Hate: She helped pass a law that added extra penalties for crimes that were motivated by hatred toward someone's background or identity.

Campaign Finance Issues

In politics, there are strict rules about how money for campaigns can be raised and spent. In 2011 and 2013, Reynolds Brown's campaign had to pay fines because it did not follow all of these rules correctly. Some donations were not reported on time, and some were larger than the law allowed. Reynolds Brown agreed to the settlement and paid the fines.

Community Work

Outside of politics, Reynolds Brown has been very involved in her community. Every year, she holds an event called "The Celebration of Moxie Women" to honor successful women and inspire young girls.

She has also served on the boards of many organizations, including:

• Please Touch Museum
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
• The African American Museum of Philadelphia
• City Year Greater Philadelphia
• Philadelphia Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Awards and Recognition

For her work in politics and the community, Blondell Reynolds Brown has received many awards. These include:

• The Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead Award
• The Women's Way Powerful Voice Leadership Award
• The Mazzoni Center Justice in Action Award
• The School District of Philadelphia's Outstanding Alumni Award