Phillipe Cunningham Explained

Phillipe Cunningham
Office:Member of the Minneapolis City Council
from the 4th Ward
Term Start:January 2, 2018
Term End:January 3, 2022
Predecessor:Barb Johnson
Successor:LaTrisha Vetaw
Birth Place:Streator, Illinois, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Education:DePaul University (BA Claremont Lincoln University (MA)

Phillipe M. Cunningham is a former city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4 and the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States.[1] [2] [3] Cunningham won the council position in the 2017 Minneapolis City Council election and lost it in the 2021 election.

Early life and education

Cunningham was born in Streator, Illinois, where he lived until he was 18.[4] His father worked as a unionized tractor mechanic/builder for more than forty years, while his mother was a dry cleaner employee; he is their only child.[5] He graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chinese studies. He transitioned during his junior year at DePaul, inspired by the life and work of Lou Sullivan.[6]

Career

In his early career, Cunningham worked as a special education teacher in Chicago Public Schools on the South Side of Chicago. Prior to his election to public office, Cunningham served on the City of Minneapolis' Youth Violence Prevention Executive Committee and as a senior policy aide for former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges.[7] On November 7, 2017, Cunningham was elected as the city council member for Minneapolis Ward 4, becoming the first transgender man of color to be elected to public office in the United States.[1] Cunningham won over 20-year incumbent Barb Johnson by 175 votes.[8] [9] [10] He was defeated on November 2, 2021, in the 2021 Minneapolis City Council election by LaTrisha Vetaw by a 61% to 30% vote.[11] Ward 4 is the northwestern most ward in Minneapolis, and people of color and indigenous residents comprise 57 percent of the population.

Cunningham is currently the U.S. Lead of Global Leadership Programs at the Obama Foundation. [12]

Political views

Cunningham is a progressive Democrat.[13]

Public Safety

Cunningham advocates for the public health approach to public safety. After the murder of George Floyd, he joined a group of nine city council members who vowed to end the Minneapolis Police Department and create a new model for safety.[14] Through the Safety for All Budget Plan, he secured permanent funding for violence prevention strategies like Next Step hospital-based bedside violence intervention.[15] The Safety for All Budget Plan also institutionalized a new national model of a first-time gun offender diversion program, as well as launched the City of Minneapolis Behavioral Crisis Intervention Teams, unarmed social workers to respond to appropriate mental health crisis calls.[16]

In 2021, Cunningham and colleagues allocated over $2M granted to Minneapolis from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021[17] toward combatting human trafficking and sexual exploitation, adding after school programs and youth outreach, and group violence intervention programming for youth.[18]

Cunningham was a panelist on President Barack Obama's 2020 Town Hall on Racial Justice and Policing on June 3, 2020 where he spoke about the public health approach to public safety and gave an update on Minneapolis in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd's murder by Minneapolis Police Department officers.[19]

Community Development

Cunningham led the planning process for the projected $350 million dollar Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment project which was approved.[20] He also collaborated with Mayor Jacob Frey and state legislators to bring $27.5 million in state bonding investment for infrastructure redevelopment and development of a community performing arts center and amphitheater at the Upper Harbor Terminal site.[21]

Housing

Cunningham led the creation, passage, and implementation of the Tenant Relocation Assistance ordinance, which requires landlords to provide 3 months rent to their tenants, if they lose their housing due to landlord negligence.[22]

In November 2018, Cunningham drew attention for a post on Twitter for characterizing the concerns of opponents of the "Minneapolis 2040" plan as merely seeking to protect their "bungalow neighborhoods".[23]

Personal life

Cunningham is Black, queer, and transgender.[24] On July 10, 2015, soon after same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide, Cunningham married Lane Cunningham, who is a software architect and small business owner.[25] They met at Creating Change, an annual national conference for LGBTQ+ activists held by the National LGBTQ Task Force.[26] They are passionate about rescuing hard to rehabilitate pets and beasts. Cunningham has been a vegan since 2016.[27]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Phillipe Cunningham makes history as Minnesota trans male candidate . Johnson . Chris . November 8, 2017 . . December 27, 2017 . October 3, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181003135637/http://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/11/08/phillipe-cunningham-first-trans-man-elected-u-s-public-office/ . live .
  2. Web site: Moini . Nina . Phillipe Cunningham Focused On Lifting 'Everybody Up In The Community' . . November 9, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . December 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054402/http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/11/09/phillipe-cunningham-north-minneapolis/ . live .
  3. Web site: Andrea Jenkins on Her Remarkable Year Making and Preserving Trans History . . Burns . Katelyn . December 18, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . December 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171533/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/gywbwm/andrea-jenkins-on-her-remarkable-year-making-and-preserving-trans-history . live .
  4. Web site: Interview with Phillipe Cunningham . Andrea Jenkins . Andrea Jenkins . The Transgender Oral History Project . . September 25, 2015 . December 27, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171227211125/https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/sites/default/files/archive/60/application/pdf/1291255.pdf . live .
  5. Web site: ChangeMakers: Phillipe Cunningham . Christine T. Nguyen . February 25, 2019 . November 12, 2019 . November 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191117191654/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/02/25/changemakers-phillipe-cunningham . live .
  6. Web site: Phillipe Cunningham finds success and respect as a transgender man . Cai Thomas . September 22, 2016 . . December 27, 2017 . December 14, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171214134006/http://www.mprnextgenfellows.org/phillipe-cunningham-finds-success-and-respect-as-a-transgender-man/ . live .
  7. Web site: ChangeMakers: Phillipe Cunningham, choice to be Minnesotan 'the best' . February 25, 2019 . March 20, 2022 . November 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191117191654/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/02/25/changemakers-phillipe-cunningham . live .
  8. Web site: Phillipe Cunningham Wins Ward 4, Now 2 Transgender Members Of Minneapolis City Council . November 8, 2017 . . December 27, 2017 . December 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054410/http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2017/11/08/phillippe-cunningham-wins-ward-4/ . live .
  9. Web site: Strange Fruit: Black Queer Bodies Are Not For White Consumption . Ellis . Laura . Strange Fruit . . December 16, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171227202719/http://wfpl.org/strange-fruit-black-queer-bodies-are-not-for-white-consumption/ . live .
  10. Web site: Transgender candidates win Mpls. City Council seats, make history . Collins . Jon . November 8, 2017 . December 27, 2017 . December 23, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171223011827/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/11/08/minneapolis-elects-transgender-candidates-to-city-council . live .
  11. Web site: Index - Election Results. 2022-02-23. electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. 2022-02-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20220209145323/https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=142&scenario=LocalMunicipality&FipsCode=43000&show=Go. live.
  12. Web site: Obama Foundation announces inaugural class of Leaders USA program . Gaynor . Gerren . 2023-08-31 . 2023-08-14 . 2023-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230813151726/https://thegrio.com/2023/08/11/obama-foundation-announces-inaugural-class-of-leaders-usa-program/ . live .
  13. News: Gustavo . Solomon . Five takeaways from the Minneapolis DFL's City Council endorsement process . MinnPost . 2021-06-11 . 2022-02-16 . 2022-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216204455/https://www.minnpost.com/media/2021/06/five-takeaways-from-the-minneapolis-dfls-city-council-endorsement-process/ . live .
  14. News: Navratil . Liz . Most of Minneapolis City Council pledges to 'begin the process of ending' Police Department . June 8, 2020 . 25 February 2022 . Star Tribune . 29 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201229145628/https://www.startribune.com/mpls-council-majority-backs-dismantling-police-department/571088302/ . live .
  15. News: Littlefield . Susan-Elizabeth . 'Next Step' Program Aims To Help Gun Violence Victims Avoid Retaliation . 16 February 2022 . WCCO . 2020-11-17 . 2022-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216204457/https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2020/11/17/next-step-program-aims-to-help-gun-violence-victims-avoid-retaliation/ . live .
  16. News: Wiese . Charlie . Minneapolis city councilmembers propose 'Safety for All' budget plan to revamp city's public safety system . 16 February 2022 . ABC5 Channel News . 2020-11-27 . 2022-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216204456/https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minneapolis-city-councilmembers-propose-safety-for-all-budget-plan-to-revamp-citys-public-safety-system/ . live .
  17. Web site: 2021-03-11. H.R.1319 - American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 2022-03-07. Congress.gov. en-US. 2022-03-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307173752/https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text. live.
  18. News: Gustavo. Solomon. The Minneapolis Council is set to approve plans for distributing the first chunk of the city's ARP funds. Here's where the money is going.. 2022-03-07. MinnPost. 2021-07-01. 2022-03-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307191636/https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2021/07/the-minneapolis-council-is-set-to-approve-plans-for-distributing-the-first-chunk-of-the-citys-arp-funds-heres-where-the-money-is-going/. live.
  19. Web site: Former President Obama Holds Town Hall on Racial Justice & Police Reform . C-SPAN . 16 February 2022 . 16 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216215424/https://www.c-span.org/video/?472749-1%2Ftown-hall-president-obama-racial-justice-police-reform . live .
  20. Web site: City Council Approves Upper Harbor Coordinated Plan . City of Minneapolis News . City of Minneapolis . 16 February 2022 . 16 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216204457/https://www.minneapolismn.gov/news/2021/october/city-council-approves-upper-harbor-coordinated-plan/ . live .
  21. News: Gustavo . Solomon . Supporters of Minneapolis' plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal say it will bring real change to the northside. Some who live there remain unconvinced. . 16 February 2022 . MinnPost . 2021-01-21 . 2022-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217010536/https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2021/01/supporters-of-minneapolis-plan-for-the-upper-harbor-terminal-say-it-will-bring-real-change-to-the-northside-some-who-live-there-remain-unconvinced/#:~:text=The%20proposal%20%E2%80%94%20which%20was%20granted,spaces%20and%20a%20towering%20outdoor . live .
  22. News: Evans . Marissa . Minneapolis City Council passes tenant relocation assistance ordinance . 16 February 2022 . Star Tribune . January 10, 2020 . 16 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216215422/https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-city-council-passes-tenant-relocation-assistance-ordinance/566892842/ . live .
  23. Web site: Tribune. Kim Palmer Star. Are Twin Cities bungalow homes an endangered species?. 2022-02-23. Star Tribune. 2020-07-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20200702065829/https://www.startribune.com/are-twin-cities-bungalow-homes-an-endangered-species/511308142/. live.
  24. News: Transgender candidates for Mpls. City Council seek a voice at the table. Belz. Adam. February 4, 2017. Star Tribune. December 27, 2017. February 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209203726/http://www.startribune.com/transgender-candidates-for-mpls-city-council-seek-a-voice-at-the-table/412794853/. live.
  25. Web site: A Seat at the Table: Phillipe Cunningham's vision for youth and building community wealth for Ward 4 . Michael Kleber-Diggs . February 23, 2017 . November 15, 2019 . November 17, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191117191656/https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/a-seat-at-the-table-phillipe-cunninghams-vision-for-youth-and-building-community-wealth-for-ward-4/ . live .
  26. Web site: Interview with Phillipe Cunningham . 2022-02-24 . 2022-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220217205454/https://umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll97:3 . dead .
  27. Web site: Meet Phillipe . Cunningham for City Council . 16 February 2022 . 16 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216220212/https://cunninghammpls.org/meet-phillipe . live .

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