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US Representative, Wisconsin , District #4

Contact Information

Gwen Moore
Moore for Congress  P.O. Box 16646 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53216
202-544-3604
703-997-0460 (fax)
gwenmoore2006@aol.com
http://www.gwenmooreforcongress.com


Home Town: Milwaukee
Occupation: US Representative

Bio

From her personal life story to her professional and legislative accomplishments, State Senator Gwendolynne S. Moore has established herself as a bold and tenacious leader; a clear and strong voice for the citizens of Southeastern Wisconsin. Throughout her 16 years in the Wisconsin legislature, Moore has been tirelessly working for families in Wisconsin. Moore has been an effective champion of social justice and equal rights issues, has worked to advance job creation, fund quality education and to expand access to affordable health care.

Born in Racine, and raised in Milwaukee, Senator Moore's early life relates in a very personal way to the many obstacles faced by the residents the 4 th Congressional District. The eighth of nine children, Senator Moore's father was a factory worker while her mother worked as a public school teacher. Attending a poor, inner city high school Moore understood her prospects for college were bleak. "By the eleventh grade I realized with horror that my assumption of attending college was no more than that—an assumption," said Moore. Even then, her determination and commitment to improving the lives of others was evident; she chose to face the challenges “head on" by leading and helping others -- serving as student council president and working to support her family.

Senator Moore graduated from North Division High School and was accepted at Marquette University in Milwaukee. She began college as an expectant mother dependent on welfare to put food on the table. "Too many people feel that where you start out dictates where you should end up," said Moore. "I was on welfare and just shy of 19 when my first daughter was born, but I was encouraged to take advantage of my ability and drive and remained in school." Moore continued to overcome daily challenges to success and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Marquette. Moore was climbing her way to independence from welfare.

Understanding the conditions in the neighborhoods of her youth – Moore dedicated her early career toward finding solutions to the problems facing those communities. After graduation, she served as a VISTA volunteer and spearheaded the start-up of the Cream City Community Development Credit Union. From 1985-89, Moore worked for the City of Milwaukee as a Neighborhood Development Specialist, for both the Wisconsin Department of Employment Relations and the Department of Health and Human Services, as a Program and Planning Analyst and as a Housing Officer for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

In 1989, Moore turned her energy and drive toward another arena and sought public office and continued to help others and to build Wisconsin's communities. Moore won two consecutive terms to the Wisconsin State Assembly (1989-92) and then in 1992 was elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, becoming the first African-American woman to hold this office. Moore is currently serving her third term in the Senate. During her tenure in the legislature, Moore has demonstrated effective leadership and earned respect among her fellow legislators.

Attaining the following leadership positions: Chair of Black and Hispanic Legislative Caucus; Member of the powerful Joint Finance Committee; past-Secretary of Senate Democratic Caucus; and past-President Pro Tempore of the Wisconsin Senate.

Moore represents the tremendously diverse Fourth Senate District, which stretches from parts of Shorewood and Glendale includes a middle strip of the City of Milwaukee to the Waukesha County line. Moore has become a champion of progressive and social issues and has continued to stand up as a voice for each and every constituent and neighborhood across the city. She has applied her career expertise to help create jobs and build communities. Senator Moore has made a positive impact in critical issues related to welfare, education and criminal justice. A tireless advocate of women's rights and civil rights, Moore has lead the fight against racial profiling, domestic abuse and voting rights violations.

Moore will continue to work to improve the daily lives of the residents of Wisconsin's 4 th Congressional District. In the U.S. Congress, Moore will continue her fight for job creation, improved health care and quality education. Senator Moore's professional experience, along with her personal commitment and drive, make her uniquely qualified to represent Southeastern Wisconsin in the U.S. Congress.