Phillipe Cunningham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Phillipe Cunningham
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 4th Ward
In office January 2, 2018 – January 3, 2022
Preceded by	Barb Johnson
Succeeded by	LaTrisha Vetaw
Personal details
Born	Streator, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Lane Cunningham ​ (m. 2015)​
Education	DePaul University (BA Claremont Lincoln University (MA)

Phillipe M. Cunningham is a person who used to be a city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4. He made history as the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States. Cunningham won his council position in the 2017 Minneapolis City Council election and served until he lost the 2021 election.

Early Life and Learning

Phillipe Cunningham was born in Streator, Illinois. He lived there until he was 18 years old. His father worked as a tractor mechanic for over 40 years and was part of a union. His mother worked at a dry cleaner. Phillipe is their only child.

He went to DePaul University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese studies. During his third year at DePaul, he began his transition. He was inspired by the life and work of Lou Sullivan.

Career and Public Service

Early in his career, Cunningham worked as a special education teacher. He taught in Chicago Public Schools on the South Side of Chicago. Before being elected to public office, Cunningham helped the City of Minneapolis. He served on the Youth Violence Prevention Executive Committee. He also worked as a senior policy aide for former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.

On November 7, 2017, Cunningham was elected as the city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4. This made him the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States. Cunningham won by 175 votes against Barb Johnson, who had held the position for 20 years.

He was defeated on November 2, 2021, in the 2021 Minneapolis City Council election. LaTrisha Vetaw won the election with 61% of the votes, while Cunningham received 30%. Ward 4 is in the northwestern part of Minneapolis. About 57% of the people living there are people of color or indigenous residents.

Currently, Cunningham works for the Obama Foundation. He is the U.S. Lead for their Global Leadership Programs.

Political Ideas

Cunningham is a progressive Democrat. This means he supports ideas that aim to improve society and help people, often through government action.

Community Development

Cunningham led the planning for a big project called the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment. This project was approved and is expected to cost $350 million. He also worked with Mayor Jacob Frey and state lawmakers. They helped bring $27.5 million in state money for new roads and buildings. This money will also help build a community performing arts center and an outdoor theater at the Upper Harbor Terminal site.

Housing Support

Cunningham helped create, pass, and put into action the Tenant Relocation Assistance ordinance. This rule requires landlords to give tenants three months' rent. This happens if tenants lose their home because the landlord was negligent.

In November 2018, Cunningham got attention for a post on Twitter. He described the concerns of people who opposed the "Minneapolis 2040" plan. He said they were just trying to protect their "bungalow neighborhoods."

Personal Life

Phillipe Cunningham is Black, queer, and transgender. On July 10, 2015, he married Lane Cunningham. Lane is a software architect and owns a small business. They met at Creating Change, a national conference for LGBTQ+ activists. This conference is held every year by the National LGBTQ Task Force. They both love to rescue animals that are difficult to help.

Cunningham has been a vegan since 2016. This means he does not eat any animal products.

See also

• List of transgender public officeholders in the United States