Frederica Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederica Wilson
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Official portrait, 2011
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Kendrick Meek |
| Constituency | 17th district (2011–2013) 24th district (2013–present) |
| Member of the Florida Senate from the 33rd district |
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| In office November 5, 2002 – December 31, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Braynon |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 104th district |
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| In office November 3, 1998 – November 5, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Kendrick Meek |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Frederica Patricia Smith
November 5, 1942 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Paul Wilson
(m. 1963; died 1988) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Fisk University (BS) University of Miami (MS) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Frederica Smith Wilson (born Frederica Patricia Smith, November 5, 1942) is an American politician. She has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 2011. She represents Florida's 24th congressional district. This district is in South Florida and covers a large part of eastern Miami-Dade County. It includes most of Miami's neighborhoods where many Black people live. Wilson is known for her many colorful hats. She has tried to get Congress to change its rule against wearing hats during meetings.
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Early Life and Education
Frederica Smith was born in Miami, Florida, on November 5, 1942. Her parents were Beulah and Thirlee Smith. Her grandparents on her mother's side were from the Bahamas.
She went to Fisk University and earned her bachelor's degree in 1963. Later, she earned her master's degree from the University of Miami in 1972. Both of her degrees were in elementary education.
Career Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Wilson worked as a principal at Skyway Elementary School in Miami. In 1992, she joined the Miami-Dade County School Board. While on the school board, she started a program called "5,000 Role Models of Excellence." This program helps mentor students in schools.
Political Career
Frederica Wilson has served in different government roles. She started in Florida's state government before moving to the U.S. Congress.
Serving in Florida
Wilson was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1998 to 2002. After that, she served in the Florida Senate from 2002 until 2010. She could not run again for the State Senate because of term limits.
She supported Barack Obama when he ran for president in 2008. She voted for Obama and Joe Biden as one of Florida's electors.
Joining the U.S. House of Representatives
In 2010, Wilson ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat became open when the person holding it, Kendrick Meek, decided to run for the Senate. Wilson won the election and became a member of Congress in 2011.
What She Does in Congress
As a member of Congress, Frederica Wilson works on different committees. These committees focus on important topics.
- Education and Workforce: She is part of the committee that deals with schools, colleges, and jobs. She is a top member (Ranking Member) on the subcommittee for Higher Education and Workforce Development.
- Transportation and Infrastructure: She also works on the committee that handles things like airports, railroads, and water systems.
She is also part of several groups called caucuses. These groups bring together members of Congress who share similar interests or backgrounds. Some of these include:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Medicare for All Caucus
Key Issues and Actions
Wilson has worked on several important issues during her time in Congress.
- Education: She has always been a strong supporter of education. She created the "5000 Role Models" program to help reduce the number of students who drop out of school. She has also spoken out against too much standardized testing in schools.
- Trayvon Martin Case: In 2012, Wilson spoke out about the death of Trayvon Martin, who was from her district. She called for justice and for the person involved to be arrested. She also questioned Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
- Anti-Hazing Efforts: Wilson has worked to stop bullying and hazing. Hazing is when people are forced to do harmful or embarrassing things to join a group. She was called "The Haze Buster" by a newspaper for her strong stand against it. She helped start a campaign against hazing after a student died in 2011.
- Speaking Out on Important Events: She has spoken publicly about other events, such as the shooting of Charles Kinsey in her district in 2016. She also spoke about a phone call with President Donald Trump after the death of Sergeant La David Johnson in 2017.
Personal Life
Frederica Wilson married Paul Wilson in 1963. He passed away in 1988. They had three children together. She is a member of the Episcopal Church.
Wilson is famous for her large collection of hats. She wears a hat every day. She tried to get the U.S. House of Representatives to change its rule against wearing hats during meetings. This rule was partly changed in 2019, allowing some head coverings like the hijab.
See also
In Spanish: Frederica Wilson para niños
