Brenda Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brenda Lawrence
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 14th district |
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| In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Gary Peters |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brenda Lulenar
October 18, 1954 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
McArthur Lawrence
(m. 1976) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Central Michigan University (BA) |
Brenda Lawrence (born October 18, 1954) is an American politician who used to represent Michigan in the United States House of Representatives. She served in Congress from 2015 to 2023.
Before becoming a U.S. Representative, Lawrence was the mayor of Southfield, Michigan, for many years. She was the first African-American and first female mayor of Southfield. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Brenda Lawrence grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother passed away when Brenda was three years old, so her grandparents raised her. She went to local schools and graduated from Detroit's Pershing High School.
Later, she earned a college degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. This degree helped her learn about how governments are run.
Career Highlights
Brenda Lawrence worked for the United States Postal Service for 30 years. She started as a letter carrier and later worked in human resources, which deals with employee matters.
In the early 1990s, she became very involved in her children's school. She joined the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) and then ran for a seat on the Southfield Public Schools Board of Education. This board makes important decisions about local schools. She even served as the president of the board.
Becoming Mayor of Southfield
Lawrence became more involved in her local community. In 1997, she was elected to the Southfield City Council. This group helps make laws and decisions for the city. In 1999, she became the council president.
In 2001, Brenda Lawrence was elected mayor of Southfield. She was the first African-American and first woman to hold this important job in the city. She was reelected several times without anyone running against her.
As mayor, she was asked to speak to a committee in Washington D.C. about how the housing crisis was affecting American cities. She also went to Washington to ask Congress for help for the American car industry.
Running for State and National Office
Brenda Lawrence also ran for other big political jobs.
In 2008, she ran for Oakland County Executive. This person leads the government for Oakland County, Michigan. She didn't win this election, but she was seen as a strong challenger.
In 2010, she ran for Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. This is the second-highest job in the state government, working with the governor. She was the running mate for Virg Bernero, who was running for governor. They didn't win this election.
Joining the U.S. House of Representatives
In 2014, Brenda Lawrence ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. This is part of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made for the whole country. She ran for Michigan's 14th congressional district.
She won the Democratic Party's nomination, which meant she was the official candidate for her party. Then, she won the general election with a large number of votes. She became the U.S. Representative for her district in 2015.
In the U.S. House of Representatives
As a U.S. Representative, Brenda Lawrence worked on important committees. These committees study different topics and help create new laws.
Committee Work
She was a member of the:
- United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: This committee watches over how the government spends money and makes sure it works well.
- United States House Appropriations Committee: This committee decides how the government's money is spent on different programs.
Special Groups
She also joined several groups called "caucuses" in Congress. These are groups of lawmakers who share similar interests or goals. Some of the caucuses she joined included:
- New Democrat Coalition
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Former Mayors' Caucus
Retirement from Congress
In 2022, Brenda Lawrence announced that she would retire from Congress. This means she would not run for reelection. Her district boundaries were changed, and she decided it was time to step down after many years of public service. She left Congress in January 2023.
Personal Life
Brenda Lawrence was married to McArthur Lawrence, who passed away in 2023. They were high school sweethearts and had two children and a granddaughter.
Before her political career, she worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years. Her husband was also a retiree from Ford Motor Company.
Images for kids
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Brenda Lawrence's official Congressional portrait.
