Charlotte Durante facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlotte Durante
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Durante in 1986
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| Member of the Delray Beach City Commission | |
| In office 1978–1982 |
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| Alma mater | |
Charlotte Gilmore Durante was a notable leader who made history in Delray Beach, a city in Palm Beach County, Florida. In 1978, she was elected as the first African American woman to serve as a City Commissioner in Delray Beach. She held this important role until 1982. Later in her life, she faced legal challenges related to a project for a museum.
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Early Life and Learning
Charlotte Durante studied at the Tuskegee Institute, which is a famous university. She later earned a master's degree in public health from Penn State University. This degree helped her learn about community well-being.
Before she became a politician, Durante worked as a real estate agent. This meant she helped people buy and sell homes.
Her Time in Politics
Charlotte Durante was a very active person in her community.
Helping Mental Health
She was the first leader of the South County Mental Health Center. This center opened the first place for people needing urgent help with mental health in south Palm Beach County in 1975. During her time there, she faced some disagreements about how the center should be run.
Serving on City Boards
Durante also served on the Delray Beach planning and zoning board. This was a position where she helped decide how the city should grow and what could be built where.
Becoming a City Commissioner
In March 1978, Charlotte Durante ran for a seat on the Delray Beach City Commission. A City Commissioner is like a local leader who helps make decisions for the city. She was seen as an important leader in the Black community.
The election was close and went to a second round of voting, called a runoff election. Charlotte Durante won, making her the first African American woman to be a City Commissioner in Delray Beach. She was also the only Black person and the only woman on the commission at that time.
Reelection and Advocacy
Durante was reelected in March 1980, showing that many people supported her work. She even raised the most money for her campaign among all the candidates.
In 1980, Durante spoke up for Haitian refugees. These were people arriving in large numbers who needed help and a safe place to stay. She wanted Palm Beach County to create a special center for them. Her work to help these refugees showed her dedication to all people in the community.
The "Black Seat"
For many years, the Delray Beach City Commission had always included one Black member. This was sometimes called the "black seat." It showed the importance of having Black representation in the city government. Charlotte Durante held this important position during her time as commissioner.
Leaving the Commission
In 1982, Charlotte Durante was not reelected. She believed that negative campaigning and another Black candidate running for office affected the votes. After leaving the commission, she continued to work for her community. She kept pushing for the city to invest in and improve Black areas of Delray Beach.
Later Legal Challenges
Later in her life, Charlotte Durante faced legal challenges. In 2010, she was arrested on charges related to a museum project. Her lawyer stated that she intended to get donations and grants for the museum to repay investors.
In 2013, she was found guilty of some of the charges. The judge noted that Durante had been "a beacon for the community" and had lived a "remarkable life." She completed her sentence in 2016.
Images for kids
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Durante in 1986
