Shirley Kitchen facts for kids

Shirley M. Kitchen, born on September 18, 1946, is a politician from the United States. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Ms. Kitchen served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1987 to 1988. Later, she was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1996 to 2016. She holds a special place in history as the second African-American woman to serve in the Pennsylvania Senate.

Early Life and Education

Shirley M. Kitchen was born in Augusta, Georgia. She studied at Antioch University, earning a bachelor's degree in Human Services in 1979. She also attended Temple University. There, she received special certificates in Child Care, Behavior Modification, and Economic Development.

Public Service Career

Ms. Kitchen began her career helping people in her community. From 1970 to 1976, she worked as a poll worker in Philadelphia. This meant she helped people vote during elections. She also worked as a social worker for Philadelphia County. Later, she became the Director of Constituent Services for the Philadelphia City Council. In this role, she helped citizens with their concerns and connected them with government services.

Serving in the Pennsylvania House

In November 1987, Shirley Kitchen was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She represented the 181st district. She served in this role until 1988.

Serving in the Pennsylvania Senate

Ms. Kitchen was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in November 1996. This happened in a special election to fill a vacant seat. She represented the 3rd district. She served in the Senate until November 2016, when she retired. She was the second African-American woman to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate. When she retired, she was the only African-American woman serving in that Senate.

Other Important Roles

Before and during her time in the Senate, Ms. Kitchen held other important positions. From 1990 to 1992, she was a manager at the Philadelphia Parking Authority. She also returned to her role as Director of Constituent Services for the Philadelphia City Council from 1992 to 1996.

Community Leadership

Shirley Kitchen is also a leader in her local community. She is the Ward Leader of the 20th Ward Democratic Executive Committee. This means she helps organize and lead the Democratic Party's efforts in her neighborhood.

Legislative Work in 2015

In 2015, Ms. Kitchen was active in several important committees in the Senate. These committees help create and review laws.

• Public Health and Welfare: This committee focused on health and well-being for everyone.
• Agricultural and Rural Affairs: This committee dealt with farming and issues in the countryside.
• Transportation: This committee worked on topics related to roads, bridges, and public transit.
• Urban Affairs and Housing: This committee focused on issues in cities and housing for residents.