Sharon Sayles Belton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharon Sayles Belton
Sharon Sayles Belton as mayor of Mayor of Minneapolis in the 1990s
45th Mayor of Minneapolis
In office January 1, 1994 – December 31, 2001
Preceded by	Donald M. Fraser
Succeeded by	R. T. Rybak
President of the Minneapolis City Council
In office 1990–1993
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 8th Ward
In office 1983–1993
Personal details
Born	Sharon Sayles (1951-05-13) May 13, 1951 (age 74) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (DFL)
Children	3
Alma mater	Macalester College

Sharon Sayles Belton (born May 13, 1951) is an American leader, politician, and activist. She has worked to improve communities and government relations.

She served as the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1994 until 2001. She was the first African American and the first woman to hold that important job in Minneapolis.

Early Life and Education

Sharon Sayles Belton was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She was one of four daughters. When her parents separated, she lived for a year in Richfield, Minnesota. There, she was the only African American student in her junior high school. Later, she moved to south Minneapolis to live with her father and stepmother.

She went to Central High School in Minneapolis. She volunteered at Mount Sinai Hospital. She helped patients as a "candy striper," which is a hospital volunteer. Later, she worked as a nurse's aide. For a short time, she was also a civil rights activist in Mississippi. This means she worked to make sure all people had equal rights.

Sayles Belton then attended Macalester College in Saint Paul. She studied biology and sociology there. Like her grandfather, she became a neighborhood activist. This means she worked to make her community a better place.

Political Career

In 1983, Sharon Sayles Belton was elected to the Minneapolis City Council. The City Council helps run the city. She was inspired by working with Mayor Donald M. Fraser. She represented Minnesota at a big meeting called the 1984 Democratic National Convention. There, Walter Mondale was chosen to run for President of the United States.

Sayles Belton was a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. In 1990, she was elected president of the City Council.

Becoming Mayor of Minneapolis

In 1993, she decided to run for mayor. With a lot of hard work, she won the election. She promised to improve the police department. She made history by becoming the first African American and the first woman mayor in Minneapolis. The city had been around for 140 years!

She defeated John Derus in that election. She was reelected in 1997, winning against Barbara Carlson. Sharon Sayles Belton was mayor for two terms. Her time as mayor lasted from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 2001.

Mayor's Achievements

As mayor, Sharon Sayles Belton helped the city in many ways. She worked to improve city services like water treatment. She also helped neighborhoods that had flooding problems. By the end of her time as mayor, Minneapolis was doing much better. Property values went up, and the city's population grew for the first time since the 1940s. This helped reverse a long period of economic challenges.

People like Donald Fraser praised Sayles Belton. They said she helped make neighborhoods stable. She also supported the school system. She was known as a smart and capable city manager.

After leaving the mayor's office, Sayles Belton continued to work for her community. She joined the Roy Wilkins Center. This center works on human relations and social justice.

Later, she worked for GMAC Residential Finance Corporation. In 2010, she joined Thomson Reuters. There, she became the vice president of Community Relations and Government Affairs. This job involves building good relationships between the company and the community and government.

Personal Life

Sharon Sayles Belton is married to Steven Belton. They have three children together: Kilayna, Jordan, and Coleman.

Community Involvement

Sharon Sayles Belton cares deeply about many important issues. These include:

• Fairness for all races
• Developing communities and neighborhoods
• Public policy (rules and laws that guide society)
• Issues affecting women, families, and children
• Improving relationships between the police and the community
• Helping young people grow and succeed

In 1978, she helped start the Harriet Tubman Shelter for Battered Women in Minneapolis. This shelter provides a safe place for women and families who need help. She also helped with many other groups and programs. These include the Neighborhood Revitalization Program and the Clean Water Partnership. She served on the boards of Children's Healthcare and Hospital, the American Bar Association, the Bush Foundation, the United States Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and Hennepin County Medical Center.

Awards and Recognition

Bust of Sayles Belton in Minneapolis City Hall, pictured in 2023

Sharon Sayles Belton has received many awards for her hard work and dedication:

• The Gertrude E. Rush Distinguished Service Award from the National Bar Association.
• The Rosa Parks Award from the American Association for Affirmative Action.
• On May 16, 2017, a statue (called a bust) of Sayles Belton was put in Minneapolis City Hall. Governor Mark Dayton declared that day "Sharon Sayles Belton Day" in Minnesota.