Malik Evans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malik Evans
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Evans in 2024
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| 71st Mayor of Rochester | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | James Smith |
| Member of the Rochester City Council at-large |
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| In office January 1, 2018 – January 1, 2022 |
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| President of the Rochester City School District Board of Education | |
| In office 2008–2013 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | February 4, 1980 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Shawanda Evans |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Nazareth College University of Rochester |
| Profession | Bank officer |
Malik D. Evans is an American politician and banker. He is the 71st and current Mayor of Rochester, New York. Before becoming mayor, Evans was a member of the Rochester City Council. He also served on the Rochester City School Board, where he was president for several years. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Education
Malik Evans was born on February 4, 1980, in Rochester, New York. His father, Lawrance Lee Evans Sr., was a minister. He started the First Community Interfaith Institute, which focused on social justice.
Malik Evans went to Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School. He graduated from there in 1998. He then attended the University of Rochester, earning a degree in 2002. Later, he studied at Nazareth University's School of Management. He is also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
Public Service Career
Getting Started in Public Service
When he was just 16 years old in 1996, Malik Evans helped create the City/County Youth Council. This group later became known as Youth Voice, One Vision. It also led to the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council. These groups helped young people have a say in their community.
While at the University of Rochester, Evans worked with Mayor Bill Johnson. He helped with tasks like studying city nightlife. He also worked on issues related to race and community relations. In 1999, he joined a student protest. They helped protect a program for African and African-American studies at the university. One of his first jobs was working for a city councilman.
Serving on the School Board
In 2003, Evans was elected to the Rochester City School District school board. He was only 23 years old, making him the youngest person ever elected to the board. He served on the school board for 14 years. From 2008 to 2013, he was the board's president. During his time, the school district saw better graduation rates.
Besides his work in public service, Evans also had a career in banking. He worked as a Prosperity Program Manager at ESL Federal Credit Union. He also worked at M&T Bank. After being elected to the city council in 2018, he led the Finance Committee.
Becoming Mayor of Rochester
Malik Evans announced he would run for mayor of Rochester in 2021. His campaign focused on "restoring transparency" and "building bridges." He also wanted to create more job opportunities for young people. Another goal was to reduce gun violence in the city.
On June 22, 2021, Evans won the Democratic primary election. He received 66% of the votes. In the general election on November 2, 2021, Evans ran without any opponents. He won the election as expected.
Mayor of Rochester's Work
Malik Evans officially became the Mayor of Rochester on January 1, 2022. As mayor, he has focused on improving housing in the city. Many people in Rochester rent their homes. A city group found that many rental properties were not in good condition.
In February 2022, a special housing task force was created. This group worked to find new ways to help with housing. Based on their ideas, the city hired a lawyer to deal with landlords who broke housing rules. The city also started helping to build new homes for residents.
