Neva Walker
Neva Walker | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 61B district | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 5, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Wejcman |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Hayden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 14, 1971 |
| Party | Democratic |
Neva Walker (born December 14, 1971) is an American politician who served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from district 61B from 2001 to 2009.[1][2] Walker was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Minnesota Legislature.[1]
Legislative service
Walker ran for District 61B in South Minneapolis in 2000. She was endorsed by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party. District 61B at the time was 35% African American and a DFL stronghold. She ran against Republican Andy Lindberg.[3]She decided to run for office after she had a negative experience demonstrating with homeless people at the Capitol.[4]
Prior to her election, six African-American men had been elected to the legislature but no women; John Francis Wheaton was the first in 1899. Upon her election, she joined Greg Gray as the only two African Americans in the legislature.[3] On May 16, 2008, she became the first African-American woman to gavel the House into session.[1]
In 2003, Walker received a letter from the lawyer of Corcoran Republican Arlon Lindner that was addressed to her as "Walker-Black". Walker said racist incidents she faced were "emotionally and mentally draining."[5]
Her committee assignments included finance, health and human services, and mental health. Walker served four terms.[6][5]
Personal life
Walker grew up in Minneapolis. Her mother, Clarissa Walker, was program manager for Sabathani Community Center for over thirty years.[4] Walker graduated from Minneapolis South High School.[5] Walker had one son, Shae, who passed in 2021.[7] She married in 2007.[1]
Walker attended the University of Minnesota and studied sociology.[4] She worked as a youth development coordinator for the Minneapolis Area United Way and had a history as an affordable housing advocate.[8][3]
External links
References
- ^ a b c d "Walker, Neva". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "Rep. Walker looks forward to life with a husband named Steve". StarTribune.com. February 20, 2008. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b c Williams, Brandt (March 23, 2000). "Neva Walker running to become first Black woman lawmaker". archive.mpr.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ a b c Watson, Mary Kay (February 16, 2001). "History maker: First female African-American legislator brings community concerns to the Capitol" (PDF). Session Weekly. p. 17.
- ^ a b c Collins, Terry; Walsh, Paul (January 3, 2008). "Pioneering legislator won't seek 5th term". Minnesota Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "'08 session is the last for pioneering Minnesota legislator". MPR News. January 2, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Remembering Shae TcShaumbay Hill-Walker". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. July 7, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
- ^ "Neva Walker prepares for role as new state legislator". archive.mpr.org. Retrieved February 10, 2026.