Robin Wonsley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robin Wonsley
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 2nd Ward
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2022
Preceded by	Cam Gordon
Personal details
Born	Robin Wonsley 1991 (age 33–34) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Independent socialist
Other political affiliations	Democratic Socialists of America
Residence	Seward, Minneapolis
Education	Carleton College University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)
Alma mater	University of Minnesota

Robin Wonsley, born in 1991, is an American activist and politician. She has been a member of the Minneapolis City Council for the 2nd Ward since 2021. This means she helps make important decisions for her city.

Early Life and Education

Robin Wonsley was born in Chicago in 1991. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago. She attended Carleton College as a special scholar. In 2013, she earned a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies.

After college, she received a special fellowship. This allowed her to travel to Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland. She studied how different countries handle justice and crime. In 2014, she moved to Minneapolis. There, she worked at the University of Minnesota Women's Center. She also joined a group focused on helping communities solve problems.

In 2015, she completed a business program for non-profit groups. Later, in 2018, she started a Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Her research looked at housing issues and differences between racial groups. She earned her Ph.D. in Gender, Women, and ... Studies.

Her Work as an Activist

After 2015, Robin Wonsley became very active in politics. She joined the Black Lives Matter movement. This group works for fairness and equal rights for Black people. She also helped with the Fight for $15 effort. This movement wanted to raise the minimum wage in the city.

In March 2020, she joined the Twin Cities chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. This is a political group that believes in social and economic equality. In the summer of 2020, she took part in the George Floyd protests. She also became a leader in the "defund the police" movement. This effort aimed to use some police funds for other community services.

Joining the Minneapolis City Council

In 2021, Robin Wonsley made history. She became the first Black Democratic Socialist to win a seat on the Minneapolis City Council. She won against Cam Gordon, who had been on the council for 14 years. This election was also important because, for the first time, most of the city council members were people of color.

Robin Wonsley represents the 2nd Ward in Minneapolis. This area includes several neighborhoods like Cedar-Riverside and Seward. After she was elected, she said that housing was a big issue for her ward. She supported rent control as a way to help people afford housing.

She also worked on policies to help people living in homeless encampments. In January 2022, she called for a stop to evictions from these camps. Other council members, including Elliott Payne and Jason Chavez, joined her in protesting these evictions.

As of January 2024, Robin Wonsley leads the Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee. She is also the vice-chair of the Public Health & Safety Committee. These roles mean she helps oversee how the city runs and how it keeps people healthy and safe.

Life in Minneapolis

Robin Wonsley lives in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis.