Oye Owolewa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oye Owolewa
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| Shadow Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the District of Columbia's at-large district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Franklin Garcia |
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| Born | 1989 (age 35–36) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Northeastern University (BS, PharmD) |
Adeoye "Oye" Owolewa (born in 1989) is a Nigerian-American politician and pharmacist. He is a member of the Democratic Party. In November 2020, he was elected as the shadow representative for the District of Columbia in the United States House of Representatives.
A shadow representative is someone who works to convince the U.S. Congress to make Washington, D.C., a state. This job is not paid, and D.C. voters approved it in 1982. However, Congress has not yet officially recognized it. Some news in Nigeria mistakenly called Owolewa the first Nigerian American in the U.S. Congress, but he is not an official member of Congress.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Oye Owolewa was born in Nigeria. His father is from Omu Aran and his mother is from Ilesa. His grandmother, Phoebe C. Ajayi-Obe, was a respected lawyer in Nigeria. Oye grew up in Newton, Massachusetts and Boston. He went to Boston Latin School and finished in 2008.
In 2014, he earned a special degree in pharmacy from Northeastern University. After that, he moved to Washington, D.C., to start working as a pharmacist.
Career
Oye began his career as a pharmacist in 2014. He has also received an award called the Cardinal GenerationRx Champions Award for his work.
Politics
In 2018, Oye was elected to a local government group in D.C. called the Advisory Neighborhood Commission. He represented a part of Ward 8. This group helps advise D.C. lawmakers on community issues.
Later in 2018, a political group called the Capital Stonewall Democrats supported Oye Owolewa to become D.C.'s shadow U.S. representative. He won their vote with 66.1% on the first try.
In November 2020, Oye Owolewa was elected as a U.S. Shadow Representative for the District of Columbia. After his election, his family in Nigeria held a special prayer service to celebrate his success.
In August 2021, Oye spoke out against Senator Joe Manchin for not supporting D.C. becoming a state.
Why D.C. Wants Statehood
Oye believes it is important for D.C. to become a state. He wrote an article explaining that without statehood, D.C. cannot easily raise money. This is because the U.S. Congress has to approve all of D.C.'s laws. Also, a lot of land in D.C. is owned by the federal government, so it cannot be taxed.
Even though D.C. has duties like a state, such as managing schools and roads, it cannot tax the money earned by people who work there but live elsewhere. This is different from other states. This rule makes it hard for D.C. to deal with big problems, like the COVID-19 pandemic.
In January 2022, Oye joined the 16th annual Peace Walk. The walk encouraged the U.S. Senate to vote on important laws like the Freedom to Vote Act of 2021 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Oye mentioned that even the family of Martin Luther King Jr. supports D.C. statehood.
In March 2022, Owolewa visited the State Capitol Building in Charleston, WV. He worked with local leaders to introduce a plan to support D.C. statehood.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Oye has spoken about how laws against transgender people can affect D.C. He explained that many of these laws target young transgender and non-binary people. They make it illegal to get or give certain medical care that helps transgender people. This can lead to wasted money, higher healthcare costs, and worse health for the trans community.
He believes that this type of care is a key part of good healthcare for transgender people.
Advocacy Work
Oye has worked to bring help to areas of D.C. that need it most. He advises D.C. lawmakers based on what he hears from the community. Since 2018, he has served as a commissioner, which was his first elected job. As a commissioner, Oye learned how important it is to speak up for people and be a helpful resource.
Some of his important achievements include:
- Adding more science programs for elementary schools in Southeast D.C.
- Making traffic safer in neighborhoods.
- Helping to open a Senior Day Center for older adults in the community.
In May 2022, Owolewa helped lead D.C.'s first-ever Veg Restaurant Week with Chef Spike Mendelsohn. This event promoted plant-based eating.
Climate Change
In July 2022, Owolewa joined a campaign to protest a decision by the Supreme Court. The decision limited the Environmental Protection Agency's power to control gases that cause climate change. He called for more action to fight climate change.
Personal Life
Mentorship
Since moving to D.C., Dr. Oye has spent his free time helping elementary students learn about science. He does this through hands-on activities. He also works to find ways to reduce the misuse of prescription drugs. His efforts earned him the Cardinal Health Generation Rx Champions Award.
Dr. Oye has made a difference by increasing science learning in Southeast D.C. schools. He also helped improve traffic safety and worked with Howard students on health fairs.
