Jheanelle Wilkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jheanelle Wilkins
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 25, 2017
Appointed by	Larry Hogan
Preceded by	William C. Smith Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1988-05-29) May 29, 1988 (age 37) Kingston, Jamaica
Political party	Democratic
Residences	Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Delaware (B.A.) American University (M.P.A.)

Jheanelle K. Wilkins (born May 29, 1988) is an American politician. Since 2017, she has been a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 20. The House of Delegates is a part of Maryland's government that makes laws for the state.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Wilkins has also been the leader of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland since 2022. This group is made up of African American lawmakers in Maryland's state government.

Early Life and Schooling

Jheanelle Wilkins was born in Kingston, Jamaica. When she was five years old, she moved to the United States with her family. She grew up in New Castle, Delaware.

After graduating from William Penn High School, she went to college. She studied sociology at the University of Delaware and graduated in 2009. Later, she earned a master's degree in public administration from American University in 2011.

Career in Politics

Getting Started

Wilkins began her career working for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a group that fights for fairness and equality. She worked to support new immigration laws, equal opportunities in education, and other civil rights issues.

She was also active in local politics. She was part of the Montgomery County Young Democrats and was elected to the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee in 2014.

Maryland House of Delegates

Wilkins has served as the chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland since 2022.

In 2017, a spot opened up in the Maryland House of Delegates for her district. Wilkins applied for the position and was chosen by the local Democratic Party. Governor Larry Hogan then officially appointed her to the job.

This was a historic moment. Wilkins became the first African American woman to represent her district. In 2018, she was elected to a full term, making her one of the first Black women ever elected to the House of Delegates from her county.

Since 2023, Wilkins has served as the Vice-Chair of the important Ways and Means Committee. This committee deals with state money, taxes, and education. She also leads a smaller group focused on election laws.

Political Views and Actions

As a lawmaker, Jheanelle Wilkins has worked on many different issues. She often focuses on creating a more fair and just society.

Justice System Reform

Wilkins believes in making the criminal justice system fairer for everyone. In 2018 and 2019, she joined protests in Silver Spring, Maryland, calling for changes in policing.

In 2020, she called for a state official to be fired after he posted messages online that seemed to support a person involved in a violent protest. The official was later fired. After the deaths of George Floyd and Tyre Nichols during encounters with police, Wilkins released statements calling for an end to police violence.

Education

Wilkins supports making education fair for all students. In 2012, she attended a rally at the U.S. Supreme Court. The rally was in support of a case that allowed colleges to consider a student's race to help create a diverse student body.

In 2021, she introduced a bill called the "Counselors not Cops Act." This law aimed to use state money for more mental health counselors in schools instead of police officers.

Housing and Renting

Wilkins has worked to protect people who rent their homes. She introduced a bill that would require landlords to have a good reason (a "just cause") before they can evict a tenant.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she asked the governor to pause rent and mortgage payments for people who were struggling financially. In 2023, she proposed a law to provide $15 million for rental assistance vouchers to help people afford housing.

Social Issues

Wilkins supports a person's right to make their own healthcare choices. In 2019, she signed a statement with other lawmakers promising to protect these rights.

She also introduced and passed a law that requires the state to report how much it pays prisoners for work they do. In 2020, she supported the CROWN Act, a law that bans discrimination based on a person's hairstyle, such as braids or locs.

Taxes and Business

Wilkins has worked to help small businesses and working families. In 2020, she introduced a bill to give tax breaks to small businesses affected by the construction of the Purple Line railway.

In 2021, she supported a law to expand the state's earned income tax credit, a tax break for people with lower incomes, to include more workers.

Election History