Nnamdi Chukwuocha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nnamdi Chukwuocha
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Chukwuocha in 2018
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| Member of the Delaware House of Representatives from the 1st district |
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| Assumed office November 7, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Potter Jr. |
| 17th Poet Laureate of Delaware | |
| Assumed office December 13, 2015 Serving with Al Mills
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| Governor | Jack Markell John Carney |
| Preceded by | JoAnn Balingit |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 16, 1970 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Wilmington, Delaware |
| Occupation | Poet, social worker |
| Website | Official website: http://www.twinpoets.org/ Campaign website |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha, born on November 16, 1970, is an American politician and a talented poet. He is a member of the Democratic Party and serves in the Delaware House of Representatives, representing District 1. He also holds the special title of Poet Laureate of Delaware alongside his twin brother, Al Mills.
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Early Life and Career
Nnamdi Chukwuocha was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on November 16, 1970. His twin brother, Albert Mills, was born just two minutes later. Their father, William "Hicks" Anderson, was a very important community leader in Wilmington. The city even named a community center after him.
Nnamdi grew up in a family that cared a lot about their community. From a young age, both brothers loved writing and poetry. They started writing when they were six years old. By age seven, they were already performing their poems for children at their grandmother's foster home.
Military Service and Social Work
Nnamdi Chukwuocha joined the United States Army and was stationed in Alaska. His brother, Al, also served in the Army. Al was in Iraq and Kuwait during the first Gulf War.
Today, Nnamdi is a social worker. He helps people and communities. He works as a director at Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware. He has worked in the nonprofit field for more than 30 years, helping others.
Art for Life Nonprofit
Nnamdi and his brother, Al, started a nonprofit organization called Art for Life. This group uses the power of art to help people and communities. They believe art can save and change lives for the better.
The Twin Poets
Nnamdi Chukwuocha and his brother, Al Mills, are famously known as the "Twin Poets." Both brothers served in the U.S. Army and are social workers from Wilmington, Delaware. They have been writing and performing poetry together since they were very young.
Their poems often talk about important issues. These include topics like gun violence, poverty, and the justice system. Their experiences as social workers, helping people in Wilmington every day, inspire their poetry.
The brothers work together when they create their poems. They have a strong connection when they perform on stage. They often speak at the same time or mix their voices. They are very good at adding to each other's rhythmic spoken poetry. Al Mills has said that Nnamdi often writes longer poems.
The Twin Poets have won several awards for their work. They even appeared on HBO's Def Poetry. A documentary film called Why I Write was made about them.
Delaware Poets Laureate
On December 13, 2015, the Twin Poets received a special honor. They were named the 17th Poets Laureate of Delaware. As poets laureate, they act as representatives for poetry in their state. They encourage people to enjoy and create poetry.
They are the first co-laureates appointed by any state. This means they are the first two people to share this important poetry role. They are also the first brothers to hold this position together. During their swearing-in ceremony, they recited their oath of office perfectly together.
Political Career
In 2012, Nnamdi Chukwuocha was elected to the Wilmington City Council. He later became the president pro tempore of the council in 2018. He was also chosen to serve on the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission by Governor Jack Markell.
In 2018, he was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives. He won against the person who held the seat before him, Charles Potter Jr., in the Democratic primary election. He represents District 1, which includes parts of Wilmington.
In November 2018, Nnamdi's twin brother, Al, was suggested to take Nnamdi's place on the Wilmington City Council. However, the full council later voted against this recommendation. A decision about who would replace Nnamdi was then delayed until February 2019.
Personal Life
Nnamdi Chukwuocha is a vegetarian.
