Stacey Abrams

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Stacey Abrams
Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives
Assumed office
2011 - 2017
Preceded byDuBose Porter
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 89th district
Assumed office
Redistricted in 2011
Member of the Georgia House of Representatives
from the 84th district
Assumed office
2007
Preceded byJoAnn McClinton
Personal details
Born (1973-12-09) December 9, 1973 (age 50)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materSpelman College
University of Texas, Austin
Yale University
WebsiteOfficial website

Stacey Y. Abrams (born December 9, 1973) is an American politician who is currently the House Minority Leader for the Georgia General Assembly and State Representative for the 89th House District. She is a member of the Democratic Party.[1] Abrams is a candidate in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election, filing her candidacy on May 2, 2017. If elected, she would become the first black female governor in the United States.[2][3]

Early life and education

Raised in Gulfport, Mississippi,[4] Abrams is one of six siblings. The family moved to Atlanta while her parents pursued graduate school and later became Methodist ministers.[5][6] She attended Avondale High School and was the school's first African-American valedictorian.[7] While in high school, she was hired as a typist for a congressional campaign and was later hired as a speechwriter at age 17 based on the edits she made while typing.[7]

In 1995, Abrams earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Political Science, Economics and Sociology) from Spelman College, magna cum laude. [8] While in college, Abrams worked in the youth services department in the office of Atlanta mayor, Maynard Jackson.[7] She later interned at the Environmental Protection Agency.[7] After being named a Harry S. Truman Scholar, she graduated from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin with a Masters of Public Affairs in public policy.[8] Abrams received her J.D. from the Yale Law School.[8]

Georgia General Assembly, 2007–

Abrams became the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and the first African-American to lead in the House of Representatives.[1] She represents House District 89, which includes portions of the City of Atlanta and unincorporated DeKalb County,[9] covering the communities of Candler Park, Cedar Grove, Columbia, Druid Hills, Edgewood, Highland Park, Kelley Lake, Kirkwood, Lake Claire, South DeKalb, Toney Valley and Tilson.[10] Abrams serves on the following committees: Appropriations, Ethics, Judiciary Non-Civil, Rules and Ways & Means.[1]

Her first major action as Minority Leader was her cooperation with Republican Governor Nathan Deal's administration to reform the HOPE Scholarship Program. Abrams co-sponsored the 2011 legislation that preserved the HOPE program by decreasing the scholarship amount paid to Georgia students and funded a 1% low-interest loan program for students.[11] “My fundamental philosophy,” she says, “is that my first job is to cooperate and collaborate with the other side whenever I can.” [12] Abrams led the legislative opposition to a proposed tax hike on Georgia residents.

Legal and business career

Abrams worked as a tax attorney at the Sutherland Asbill & Brennan law firm in Atlanta, with a focus on tax-exempt organizations, health care and public finance.[8] She was appointed the Deputy City Attorney for Atlanta at age 29.[8][13]

Abrams co-founded and served as the senior vice president of NOW Corp. (formerly NOWaccount Network Corporation), a financial services firm.[14][15] She co-founded Nourish, Inc., a beverage company with a focus on infants and toddlers, [16] and is CEO of Sage Works, a legal consulting firm, that has represented clients including the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.[17]

Writing career

Abrams has published articles on issues of public policy, taxation and nonprofit organizations. Under the pen name Selena Montgomery, Abrams is the award-winning author of several romantic suspense novels. According to Abrams' website, her novels have sold more than 100,000 copies.[1] Selena Montgomery was the winner of both the Reviewer’s Choice Award and the Reader’s Favorite Award from Romance In Color for Best New Author, and was featured as a Rising Star.[18]

Honors and awards

In 2012, Abrams received the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award from the Kennedy Library and Harvard University's Institute of Politics, which honors an elected official under 40 whose work demonstrates the impact of elective public service as a way to address public challenges.[19] In 2014, she was named a Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine, an award which recognizes state and local official for outstanding accomplishments.[20] Abrams was recognized as one of “12 Rising Legislators to Watch” by the same publication in 2012 [21] and one of the “100 Most Influential Georgians” by Georgia Trend for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.[22]

EMILY's List recognized Abrams as the inaugural recipient of the Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award in 2014.[23] She was selected as an Aspen Rodel Fellow [24] and a Hunt-Kean Fellow.[25] She was also named as #11 on The Root 100 by The Root.[26] Abrams was named Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals, Public Servant of the Year by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Public Service by the Latin American Association, Champion for Georgia Cities by the Georgia Municipal Association, and as Legislator of the Year by the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce.[27]

She received the Georgia Legislative Service Award from the Association County Commissioners Georgia, the Democratic Legislator of the Year from the Young Democrats of Georgia and Red Clay Democrats, and an Environmental Leader Award from the Georgia Conservation Voters.[27] Abrams won Grand Champion for showing 1000 lb. heifer Bessie at the 2012 Legislative Livestock Showdown at the Georgia National Fair.[28][29]

Abrams is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations,[30] a Next Generation Fellow of the American Assembly,[31] an American Marshall Memorial Fellow,[31] a Salzburg Seminar – Freeman Fellow on U.S.-East Asian Relations,[32] and a Yukos Fellow for U.S. – Russian Relations.[32]

Abrams received the Stevens Award for Outstanding Legal Contributions and the Elmer Staats Award for Public Service, both national honors presented by the Harry S. Truman Foundation.[33][34] She was also a 1994 Harry S. Truman Scholar.[35]

In 2001, Abrams was named one of “30 Leaders of the Future” by Ebony Magazine.[36] In 2004, she was named to Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40” list,[37] The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Abrams to their Top 50 Under 40 list. In 2006, she was named a Georgia Rising Star by Atlanta Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine.[38]

Other work

Abrams currently serves on the Boards of Directors for Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Atlanta Metropolitan State College Foundation, Gateway Center for the Homeless and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, and the Advisory Boards for Literacy Action and Health Students Taking Action Together (HSTAT). She also serves on the Board of Visitors for Agnes Scott College and the University of Georgia.[citation needed]

Personal life

Abrams is one of six children born to Reverend Carolyn and the Reverend Robert Abrams originally of Mississippi.[5] Her sister is Leslie Abrams.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b c d [1][dead link]
  2. ^ "Meet the Democrat who wants to be America's first black female governor". June 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Stacey Abrams enters Georgia's governor's race". June 4, 2017.
  4. ^ Fouriezos, Nick (January 28, 2016). "Georgia's Daring Heroine on a Secret Mission". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  5. ^ a b Galloway, Jim (March 25, 2017). "The possibility of a Democratic race for governor between two Staceys". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  6. ^ Ford, Ashley (September 28, 2016). "State Representative Stacey Abrams Is the Bright Future of American Politics". Lenny. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  7. ^ a b c d Graves, Lucia (3 May 2017). "Meet the Democrat who wants to be America's first black female governor". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Honorary Degree Recipient Stacey Yvonne Abrams". Spelman College. March 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  9. ^ http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/house/bios/abramsStacey/abramsStacey.htm
  10. ^ "Stacey Abrams for Georgia". Stacey Abrams for Governor.
  11. ^ "House approves HOPE bill, but challenges in Senate loom". Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  12. ^ "Stacey Abrams, Georgia". www.governing.com. Retrieved 2015-09-28.
  13. ^ "Rep. Stacey Abrams reflects on MLK legacy in annual Centre convo". Centre College. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  14. ^ "NOWaccount". www.nowaccount.com.
  15. ^ Allison, David (April 28, 2014). "Small business payment firm NOWAccount Network raises $2M". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  16. ^ Wade Talbert, Marcia (September 24, 2010). "Inventors Insider: 4 Rules for Inventing With a Partner". Black Enterprise. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  17. ^ Hickey, Patrick (October 15, 2015). "House Minority Leader Abrams Talks New Georgia Project, Gig Economy and Upcoming Session". Southern Political Report. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  18. ^ [2][dead link]
  19. ^ "Stacey Abrams 2012 - John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum". www.jfklibrary.org.
  20. ^ "Stacey Abrams, Georgia". www.governing.com.
  21. ^ "12 State Legislators to Watch in 2012". www.governing.com.
  22. ^ "100 Most Influential Georgians - Georgia Trend". www.georgiatrend.com.
  23. ^ "Stacey Abrams receives first ever Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award". www.emilyslist.org.
  24. ^ [3][dead link]
  25. ^ "Hunt-Kean Leadership Fellows - The Hunt Institute".
  26. ^ [4][dead link]
  27. ^ a b "Speakers". Governing. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  28. ^ "Georgia 4-H". Georgia 4-H. 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2017-07-08.
  29. ^ http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20132014/133419.pdf
  30. ^ Gould Sheinin, Aaron. "DNC 2016: Five things to know about Stacey Abrams". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  31. ^ a b "Ga. State House of Representatives Minority Leader Stacey Abrams to Keynote 2011 Buttimer Dinner". The Savannah Tribune. October 19, 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  32. ^ a b St. Claire, Pat (March 12, 2015). "House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams: Accomplished And Driven". GPB. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  33. ^ "Rep Stacey Abrams" (PDF). House.ga.gov. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  34. ^ "Harry Truman America's Truman Scholars" (PDF). Truman.gov. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  35. ^ "Search Our Scholars | The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation". www.truman.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  36. ^ "30 Leaders of the Future". Ebony Magazine. December 2001. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  37. ^ Kirkpatrick, Karen (October 2016). "Georgia Trend's 2016 40 Under 40". Georgia Trend. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  38. ^ Barry, Tom. "Stacey Abrams' life is Action-Packed! And Spine-Tingling! Even without the spy novels she writes". Super Lawyers. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  39. ^ Malloy, Daniel (March 11, 2014). "Obama nominates Leslie Abrams — Stacey's sister — for federal judgeship". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 9 May 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stacey_Abrams&oldid=792996385"