Robin Wonsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robin Wonsley
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Wonsley in 2025
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| Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 2nd Ward | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Cam Gordon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 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. She works to make her community a better place.
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About Robin Wonsley's Early Life and School
Robin Wonsley was born in Chicago in 1991. She grew up on the South Side of the city. She went to Carleton College as a special scholarship student. In 2013, she earned a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies.
After college, Robin received a special fellowship. This allowed her to travel to Canada, Australia, South Africa, and Ireland. She studied how different countries handle justice and community safety. In 2014, she moved to Minneapolis. There, she worked at the University of Minnesota Women's Center. She also helped a group called Restorative Justice Community Action.
In 2015, she completed a special business program at the University of St. Thomas. Later, in 2018, she started a Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota. Her research focused on housing and fairness for different groups of people.
Robin Wonsley's Work and Activism
After 2015, Robin Wonsley became very active in her community. She joined movements like Black Lives Matter. This group works for fairness and equal rights for Black people. She also helped with the Fight for $15 effort. This movement aimed to raise the minimum wage in the city.
In March 2020, she joined the Twin Cities chapter of Democratic Socialists of America. This group believes in using government to help people and solve problems. In the summer of 2020, she took part in the George Floyd protests. She also became an organizer for the "defund the police" movement. This effort wanted to use some money from policing for other community services. These services would help prevent crime in different ways.
Becoming a City Council Member in Minneapolis
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 it was 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, Como, Cooper, Longfellow, Prospect Park, Seward, and the University District.
After being elected, Robin said that housing was a big issue for her ward. She supported rent control as a way to help people afford homes. She also worked on policies to help people living in homeless encampments. In January 2022, she spoke out against evicting people from these encampments. Other council members joined her in protesting these evictions.
As of July 2025, 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 make important decisions for the city.
Robin Wonsley's Personal Life
Robin Wonsley lives in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis.
