In Florida’s 24th district, Frederica S. Wilson is the representative. Parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties are included in this district, making it one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse in the nation.
In 2010 she was elected to the House of Representatives by the people as a result of her dedication and efforts. The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project was founded by Congresswoman Wilson, who is also a teacher, elementary school principal, community leader, school board member, and state representative. It was her preferred moniker. She is now serving her fourth term in Congress, and has become well-known for her work on behalf of the poor.
The Florida lawmaker has continued her fight to better the lives of her voters by doing things like decreasing the amount of foreclosures, boosting relations to Haiti and other Caribbean countries, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and creating more well-paying employment.
In the 114th Congress, Rep. Wilson led his fellow Democrats as chair of the House Education and Workforce Protections Subcommittee. He introduced three bills during that time: the American Jobs Act of2013, which promotes full employment and boosts workforce development; the Student Loan Borrower Bill of Rights, which provides relief to overburdened borrowers of student loans; and the Youth Corp Act of2013, which aids young people. She has also taken action to lower the cost of homeowner’s insurance, enhance the security of the foster care system, and stop sexual assault in Haiti. One of the greatest job fairs in Florida was arranged by the congressman whose campaign slogan was “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,” and it brought together thousands of Floridians and more than a hundred regional and national businesses. The congressman’s catchphrase is “Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.”
In order to pass the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, Representative Wilson created the bipartisan Florida Ports Caucus. The Republican-controlled Congress finally passed the bill after Democrats and Republicans worked together to get it passed in 2014. She was instrumental in getting billions of dollars in capital financing for projects like the PortMiami Tunnel in her district, which resulted in the addition of thousands of jobs. Legislator’s capacity to cooperate with members of the other party was also on display.
Rep. Wilson has been quite effective at securing federal financing for local projects, such as the $1 million grant he secured in 2014 to combat crime in the Northside District of Miami-Dade County, which has the county’s worst crime rate. The funding from the Department of Justice will aid the Miami-Dade Police Department in its efforts to make the city safer for its residents and businesses. To put it another way, this expenditure will increase public safety. During her time as mayor, $3,1 billion in grants and subsidies have been given to the city. Because of her transformative work with the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project, Congresswoman Wilson was appointed to President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” Alliance advisory board in May 2015. These objectives were met thanks to the efforts of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project. She started this initiative 25 years ago, and President Obama regularly uses it as an example of the kind of work he wishes to spur through “My Brother’s Keeper.” Wilson chairs the “My Brother’s Keeper” Task Force of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Aware of Congress’s worldwide leadership in human and civil rights, Representative Wilson spearheaded the body’s efforts to obtain the release of 219 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in June 2014 and to assist destroy the organization. She is certain that the Congress can take the lead on issues of civil and human rights on a worldwide scale. She was instrumental in the passage of two resolutions and a daily worldwide Twitter push to #BringBackOurGirls. Another initiative of this Florida senator is “Wear Something Red Wednesdays,” a weekly picture opportunity. The effort puts the children’s plight in the spotlight, putting pressure on the U.S. and Nigerian governments to save them. The phrase “Frederica Wilson’s War,” coined by a prominent political publication to describe her dogged pursuit of human rights remedies, has gained widespread popularity.
The Florida official has made it a priority to honor deserving locals. She put forth a lot of time and effort to get a law passed in memory of Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry L. Dove, who were killed in the “bloodiest firefight” in FBI history. Their names will be immortalized on the FBI building. She recently signed a measure to honor Father Richard Marquess-Barry, a revered member of the Miami community and one of South Florida’s most prominent Catholic personalities, by renaming a post office in his honor.
Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary teaching from Fisk and a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Miami, and then put both of those degrees to use working for Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Head Start. Wilson has both qualifications. She moved fast through the ranks to principal at Skyway Elementary. This institution was selected as a model for the country as part of President Bush’s “America 2000” initiative.
Students benefited from Congresswoman Wilson’s high demands, and they learned to be strong advocates for themselves. They protested the construction of a compost facility across the street from Skyway, claiming that the business’s noxious fumes would be a distraction to students. That building was directly opposite Skyway. Locals rallied behind her and her children as they lobbied state and federal lawmakers and the school board for reforms. The composting center shut down after just two years.
Wilson was elected to the school board of Miami-Dade County in 1992. Her first successful legislative initiative was the 500 Role Models of Excellence Project. She started a male mentorship program while she was principal at Skyway Elementary School. Both the pupils’ grades and their general disposition benefited from this. The initiative is now well recognized under its new moniker, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project.
The 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships to hundreds of young men to help them attend college. At the 1997 Summit for America’s Future, President Clinton honored the program by awarding it the Teaching Example for the Nation Award.
She became the Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore and Senate Minority Whip in 2002 after being chosen by her colleagues. In 1998, she was chosen to represent Florida in the Senate. A senator from Florida has earned the nickname “Conscience of the Senate” for her tireless advocacy on behalf of low-wage employees.
She pushed for legislation that mandates counties provide ex-offenders with access to HIV testing and treatment upon their arrival. In addition, she collaborated with Governor Jeb Bush in their efforts to have the Confederate flag taken down. In addition, she increased the punishment for rape committed in prison. She also pushed for women detained in Florida prisons to be relocated to be closer to their families and worked with Governor Charlie Crist to restore voting rights for previously convicted persons. The ladies and their children might serve their sentences together. She was also against high-stakes testing and wanted the term “illegal immigrant” expunged from the state’s official documents.
Rep. Wilson’s upbringing instilled in her an early appreciation for public service and a desire to someday lead others. Businesswoman Beulah Finley Smith and civil rights leader Thirlee Smith, Sr. Besides becoming the first African-American employee at the Miami Herald, Thirlee Smith, Jr. devoted his life to teaching at Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he pioneered the teaching of African-American history. The Miami Herald hired him before anybody else of his race.