Although Trans Awareness Month may be over, TransWellBeing will always spotlight transgender individuals that are making a difference in the cities across Minnesota. Today, we will share the first African American trans woman to be elected onto Minneapolis City Council.

Andrea Jenkins was first elected to Ward 8 in Minneapolis after a clear race by her opponent in 2017. She has assumed office since January 6, 2018. One of the main points of her running is to have more accountability for police, affordable housing and democracy.

Over the last 10 years, people of color, specifically black men, have been murdered by law enforcement and no action has been taken by the leaders in some of the biggest police departments. In Jenkins view, she wants to have conversations about creating equity in public safety and building trust in the community again.

Originally from Chicago, Jenkins attended the University of Minnesota and worked for the Hennepin County government for over a decade. She’s also been a part of various committees and projects focusing on transgender people. A huge project that she was a part of was the Transgender Oral History Project. This project expanded the stories from various individuals and keeping everything recorded.

Even with the killing of George Floyd this past June, she was one of the city council members that wanted to dismantle the city’s police department. She’s also been covered on Time Magazine and was even a part of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Andrea Jenkins has a lot of knowledge and expertise in her experiences as a black trans woman and will continue to do the work in the Twin Cities and in Minnesota.

If you are interested in learning more about her, please go to the website for more information https://andreajenkinsforward8.org/

Do you have anyone you would like #TransWellBeing to showcase? Leave us a comment on our various social media pages.