Sonya Halpern facts for kids

Sonya McLaughlin Halpern, born on October 11, 1967, is an American politician. She used to be a marketing executive. Today, she is a member of the Georgia State Senate, representing the 39th district. She was first elected in December 2020. She is currently serving in her third term as a senator.

Sonya Halpern's Education

Sonya Halpern went to college to study mass communication. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Later, she continued her studies. She received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Hartford. An MBA is a special degree for people who want to learn more about managing businesses.

Sonya Halpern's Career and Public Service

Early Career in Media

Sonya Halpern started her career in New York City. She worked at the Institute of International Education. After that, she moved into advertising sales. She spent over ten years working in cable television, print, and digital media. She worked for some very large media companies. These included The Walt Disney Company, ESPN, and Cox Enterprises.

Focus on Arts, Education, and Community

After her first child was born, Sonya decided to change her career path. She wanted to focus on things she was passionate about. These included the arts, education, and politics. She became very active in her community. She joined many boards and non-profit groups.

She is currently on the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. She is also a member of the Board of Regents at the University of Hartford. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board for the DeVos Institute of Arts Management. She used to be the Chair of the Board of Directors for The Children’s School. She also chaired the National Black Arts Festival.

Working with President Obama

In 2011, President Barack Obama chose Sonya Halpern for an important role. He appointed her to the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts (PACA). This committee works with the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Three years later, President Obama appointed her as the Chair of PACA. She was the first African-American and the first person from Georgia to hold this position since the committee started in the 1950s.

Political Involvement and Consultancy

In 2017, Sonya Halpern became a member of the Women’s Leadership Forum of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). During that time, she also helped start a group called Electing Women Alliance Atlanta.

In 2018, Halpern started her own company. It is called Whiskey in a Teacup ("WIAT") Consulting. This company helps with arts and culture projects around the world. It focuses on making art available to more people. It also helps artists and communities.

Becoming a State Senator

In 2020, Nikema Williams was chosen to run for a different political office. Sonya Halpern then decided to run for the special election to take Williams' place in the Georgia State Senate. She won the first round of the Democratic primary election. Then, she won against Linda Pritchett in the runoff election.

Sonya Halpern officially became a senator on January 11, 2021. She works on several important committees in the Senate. These include Appropriations, Banking and Financial Institutions, Education and Youth, Health and Human Services, and Public Safety. She is also the Vice Chair of the Urban Affairs Committee.

Sonya Halpern's Family Life

Sonya Halpern grew up in upstate New York. She moved to Atlanta in 1998. She lives there now with her husband, Daniel, and their three children. Her husband is a co-founder and CEO of Jackmont Hospitality. This is a company based in the Atlanta metropolitan area that manages food services.