Katherine Gilmore Richardson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Majority Leader of Philadelphia City Council
Incumbent
Assumed office January 2, 2024
Preceded by	Curtis J. Jones Jr.
Member of the Philadelphia City Council At-Large
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2020
Preceded by	Blondell Reynolds Brown
Personal details
Born	1983/1984 (age 41–42) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Children	3
Alma mater	West Chester University
Profession	Politician

Katherine Gilmore Richardson (born 1983/1984) is a politician who serves on the Philadelphia City Council. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was first elected in 2019. When she joined, she made history as the youngest Black woman to serve on the council. In 2024, she became the youngest person and the first "at-large" member to be chosen as the Majority Leader. An "at-large" member represents the entire city, not just one neighborhood.

Early Life and Education

Katherine Gilmore Richardson grew up in Philadelphia. She was adopted at birth by Rev. Lorraine Jenkins Gilmore and James William Gilmore. She went to the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School. Later, she attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls.

She then studied at West Chester University. There, she earned two degrees: one in political science and another in public administration. She also became a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority. Before her political career, she taught math and computer science for two years. She was a substitute teacher at Overbrook High School. In 2017, she completed a special program at Yale University called The Campaign School.

Political Journey

Gilmore Richardson started working for the City Council in 2008. She worked in the office of Councilmember Blondell Reynolds Brown. She had known Reynolds Brown since high school, as they went to the same school. For 11 years, Gilmore Richardson worked in many different roles in that office. She even became the Chief of Staff.

In 2019, she decided to run for City Council herself. She received support from the Philadelphia Democratic Party and The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. She won a spot in the general election. In November 2019, she won an "at-large" seat on the City Council. This made her the youngest Black woman ever elected to the Philadelphia City Council. She has said that her work continues the important efforts of past council members like Blondell Brown. She also likes to use social media to connect with young people.

In 2021, she was asked to join a special committee for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This committee advises the EPA on local government issues. She is also a leader in the committee's group that focuses on environmental justice. She is the only person from Pennsylvania on this committee.

In November 2023, she was re-elected to the City Council for her second term. In 2024, she made history again. She became the youngest person and the first "at-large" member to be elected as the Majority Leader of the Philadelphia City Council.

What She Does on City Council

Committee Roles

As of 2020, Katherine Gilmore Richardson serves on many important committees:

• Commerce And Economic Development
• Disabled and Persons With Special Needs
• Environment (she is the chair of this committee)
• Law and Government (she is also the chair of this committee)
• Appropriations
• Ethics
• Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Global Opportunities And Creative Innovative Economy
• Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless
• Labor and Civil Service
• Licenses and Inspections
• Rules
• Streets and Services

Key Issues and Achievements

Supporting Workforce Development

In 2020, Gilmore Richardson introduced a law to help students who complete special career and technical education programs. This law gives them extra points when applying for city jobs. This helps young people get good jobs after finishing school. The law started in May 2023.

She also created the city's first Apprenticeship Guidebook in 2020. This guidebook helps people find local apprenticeship programs. These programs teach skills for jobs like construction or plumbing. Unions, which are groups that support workers, helped her create this guide.

In 2021, she passed a bill that requires employers to give workers information about job training. This helps people find new opportunities, especially if they are leaving a job. She said this law helps Philadelphians find "family supporting and sustaining careers."

Ensuring Fiscal Responsibility

In 2020, Gilmore Richardson introduced a bill to make city contracts more open. This bill requires public meetings before the city agrees to contracts with labor unions. This helps make sure everyone knows how the city is spending money.

In 2022, she passed a law to find "unclaimed property" that the city was owed. This is money or property that belongs to the city but hasn't been collected yet. Thanks to her law, the city received over $6 million in unclaimed funds.

In 2023, she helped change the rules for the city's Budget Stabilization Reserve. This reserve is like a savings account for the city. The changes help make sure the city has enough money saved for tough times.

Improving Education

In 2021, Gilmore Richardson spoke out for teachers. She wanted teachers to get vaccinated before returning to in-person classes during the pandemic. She said, "As a former teacher, as a mother, and a councilmember, I'm angry." She believes getting children back into classrooms safely is very important.

In April 2021, she suggested that all students in the School District of Philadelphia should learn conflict resolution skills. This training helps young people solve problems without violence. The school district agreed to offer this training.

Solving "Tangled Titles"

Gilmore Richardson was inspired by her own family's experience with a "tangled title." This happens when it's unclear who legally owns a property, often after someone passes away. In 2021, she introduced a law to help prevent this problem. The law requires funeral homes to give families information about how to handle property after a death. This helps families avoid tangled titles.

Her work on this issue has also led to news reports about how tangled titles affect families in other cities.

Promoting Voting

To celebrate 100 years of the Nineteenth Amendment (which gave women the right to vote), Gilmore Richardson introduced a special resolution. For the year 2020, she suggested that Philadelphia be called "The City of Sisterly Love."

Supporting Arts and Culture

In 2021, Gilmore Richardson worked with another council member to help artists and art groups. They moved $1.3 million from a city relief fund to support arts organizations.

Personal Life

Katherine Gilmore Richardson is married to David Richardson. They have three children.

She is also a lifelong member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

See also

• List of members of Philadelphia City Council since 1952