Mindell Penn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mindell Lewis Penn
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Richmond City Council | |
| In office 1999–2005 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1944/1945 (age 80–81) Detroit, Michigan |
Mindell Lewis Penn (born around 1944 or 1945) is an American politician from Richmond, California. She served on the Richmond City Council from 1999 to 2005. She studied at the UC Davis Financial School of Management. Mindell Penn is also connected with Black Women Organized For Political Action, a group that supports Black women in politics.
Before her time on the city council, she worked as an executive for PG&E. There, she focused on community relations and finance. She was also chosen twice to lead the board of directors for the Sacramento Urban League. This group works to help people in urban areas. Mindell Penn also helped with the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park project. This park remembers the important role women played during World War II.
Contents
Mindell Penn's Time on the City Council
Mindell Penn was a member of the Richmond City Council. This council makes important decisions for the city.
Becoming a Council Member in 1999
Mindell Penn was first elected to the Richmond City Council in 1999. There were twelve people running for five open spots. Mindell Penn received the most votes, showing strong support from the community. She told the San Francisco Chronicle that she ran a fair campaign. She also said she had no secret plans. She believed people were tired of unfair politics.
Serving Richmond in 2004
In November 2004, Mindell Penn ran for the city council again. Fifteen people were running, and the top five would win seats. She finished fourth, winning another term. Her campaign had clear goals. She wanted to make Richmond a "clean, safe, and beautiful waterfront city." She also aimed to bring back services for older people and young people.
Helping the Community: Important Decisions
On March 1, 2005, the city council passed an important rule. Mindell Penn and another council member, María Viramontes, suggested this rule. It stopped the city from investing money in banks that had connections to slavery in the past. Richmond was the first city in California to do this. It was the second city in the whole country, after Chicago. This decision was big news and was reported in newspapers across the country.
In April 2005, Mindell Penn also worked on improving the city's rental home inspection program. This program helps make sure rental homes are safe. She thought of this idea after hearing about problems in Detroit. Two months later, in June 2005, Mindell Penn resigned from her position. She decided to move to Detroit to live with her elderly mother.
See also
- Richmond, California City Council
