Cynthia Jenkins facts for kids
Cynthia Jenkins (born July 21, 1924 – died October 31, 2001) was an important American woman. She worked as a librarian, helped her community, and was a politician from New York. She spent many years serving the people of New York.
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About Cynthia Jenkins
Her Early Life and Education
Cynthia Jenkins was born Essie Cynthia Burnley in Nashville, Tennessee. Her family later moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she went to school. She earned a college degree (a B.A.) from Louisville Municipal College.
On April 17, 1949, she married Joseph D. Jenkins. He was a veteran who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. They had one son, Joseph D. Jenkins Jr. The family lived in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York.
Becoming a Librarian
Cynthia Jenkins loved learning. In 1966, she earned a Master's degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute. She also continued her studies at Columbia University.
She worked as a librarian in the public libraries of Queens. Sometimes, she also taught classes at colleges. These included LaGuardia Community College and CUNY York College.
Her Time in Politics
Cynthia Jenkins became active in politics as a member of the Democratic Party. She was chosen to be a delegate for the Democratic National Conventions in 1980, 1984, and 1988. A delegate is someone who represents their state at a big meeting where the party chooses its candidate for president.
She served in the New York State Assembly from 1983 to 1994. This means she was a lawmaker for New York State. She helped make decisions and create laws for the state. In 1994, she tried to be re-elected but lost in the Democratic primary election to William Scarborough.
In 1997, she tried to run for the New York City Council. However, she was not allowed to be on the ballot. This happened because a judge said she did not have enough valid signatures from registered voters. She ran again in November 1997 on a different party ticket, the Independence Party, but she did not win.
She continued to be involved in politics. In 2000, she ran for a State Senate seat but was not successful. In 2001, she ran for the City Council again, also on the Independence Party ticket. Sadly, she passed away just one week before the election.
Cynthia Jenkins died on October 31, 2001, at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York. She had been ill for a long time. She was buried in Louisville, Kentucky.
