Jheanelle Wilkins
Office
Running for House of Delegates, Maryland, District 20 (2018)
Biography
Jheanelle Wilkins was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the United States with her mother and brother when she was five years old. Growing up in humble circumstances, Jheanelle learned the importance of being an advocate and serving others.
Jheanelle is a progressive, community-driven legislative advocate dedicated to policy change that makes a difference in people’s lives. She has organized and fought for greater opportunity for all residents in our community, including raising the minimum wage, earned sick leave for workers, protecting our environment, and improving our schools. She believes we are strongest when all voices are heard and all communities are represented in the democratic process.
She resides in Silver Spring and has been engaging and organizing in District 20 and the state for nearly a decade.
Jheanelle has leveraged her organizing and advocacy background to help pass impactful legislation in the Maryland General Assembly. In the Maryland General Assembly, she worked in coalition to push for earned sick leave, the Maryland Trust Act, the ban on fracking, and to protect Maryland schools from a misguided federal agenda. As an advocate, she has pushed for a raise in the minimum wage, justice reform, expansion of voting rights and voter registration, investment in early childhood education, and a number of other issues that strengthen our community and increase opportunity for everyone. Jheanelle was the lead sponsor of legislation that curbs racial profiling and removes unnecessary criminal penalties for minor, nonviolent offenses. Her legislation to expand tax credit eligibility for retired veterans will help our service men and women to continue to live in Maryland. Jheanelle has a proven record of legislative achievement on District 20's most pressing issues.
Career - Throughout her career, Jheanelle has fought for progressive values. Professionally, she is the senior field manager at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition. She has played lead roles in advocating for federal immigration reform, promoting educational equity, advancing criminal justice reform and protecting voting rights. With her organizing background, she has shaped federal and state policy; trained and engaged activists from Portland to Biloxi on progressive issues; created and implemented issue campaigns at the federal and state levels to pass legislation that promotes equality; and facilitated the participation of thousands of people in the political process.
Education -Â Jheanelle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Delaware and a Master of Public Administration in Social Policy from the American University.
Source: Jheanelle Wilkins.com
Priorities
Affordable Housing
Increasing affordable housing options is achievable through expansion of state programs and the development of county partnerships. I have worked with colleagues at every level to expand affordable housing for renters, potential homeowners, and seniors, including sponsoring affordable housing legislation in the 2018 session.
Economic Security
I am a sponsor of legislation to raise the state minimum wage, and helped champion the passage of earned sick leave. I believe that a livable wage and resources to support a standard of living are the right of every resident. By bringing the county and state together, we can create high-quality jobs that enable working people to support themselves and their families, and increase access to affordable child care and housing.
Educational Equity
Every child deserves the opportunity to attend excellent schools, exceed high expectations, and graduate high school ready for the college or career of their choice. I’ve spent my career working to advance educational equity and increase achievement in schools. I bring this passion and expertise to the House Ways and Means Committee, where I serve on the Education Subcommittee and use my seat at the table to speak up for all students.
Environmental Justice
I was proud to vote to ban fracking in our state, which I advocated for over several years. I have also championed clean energy jobs and sponsored legislation to increase our state's renewable energy goals. I have been an advocate for protecting our drinking water by calling on the governor to deny fracked infrastructure and new oil pipelines in our state. My vision is for a cleaner, greener future in Maryland by increasing clean energy use with a focus on advancing wind power and affordable renewable energy sources.
Health Care
I’m committed to ensuring that all Marylanders have access to quality, affordable health care. Health care is personal for me. I depended on Medicaid when I had no other insurance options, and several of my family members currently access care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA has been successful in Maryland, and we must work to ensure that it’s affordable for everyone.
Immigrant Rights
As an immigrant born in Kingston, Jamaica, I’m passionate about the rights of immigrants in our community. I am a champion of the Maryland Trust Act, which would protect immigrants from profiling and prevent unjust detention.
Source: Jheanelle Wilkins.com
Jheanelle Wilkins
...
Office
Running for House of Delegates, Maryland, District 20 (2018)
Biography
Jheanelle Wilkins was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the United States with her mother and brother when she was five years old. Growing up in humble circumstances, Jheanelle learned the importance of being an advocate and serving others.
Jheanelle is a progressive, community-driven legislative advocate dedicated to policy change that makes a difference in people’s lives. She has organized and fought for greater opportunity for all residents in our community, including raising the minimum wage, earned sick leave for workers, protecting our environment, and improving our schools. She believes we are strongest when all voices are heard and all communities are represented in the democratic process.
She resides in Silver Spring and has been engaging and organizing in District 20 and the state for nearly a decade.
Jheanelle has leveraged her organizing and advocacy background to help pass impactful legislation in the Maryland General Assembly. In the Maryland General Assembly, she worked in coalition to push for earned sick leave, the Maryland Trust Act, the ban on fracking, and to protect Maryland schools from a misguided federal agenda. As an advocate, she has pushed for a raise in the minimum wage, justice reform, expansion of voting rights and voter registration, investment in early childhood education, and a number of other issues that strengthen our community and increase opportunity for everyone. Jheanelle was the lead sponsor of legislation that curbs racial profiling and removes unnecessary criminal penalties for minor, nonviolent offenses. Her legislation to expand tax credit eligibility for retired veterans will help our service men and women to continue to live in Maryland. Jheanelle has a proven record of legislative achievement on District 20's most pressing issues.
Career - Throughout her career, Jheanelle has fought for progressive values. Professionally, she is the senior field manager at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights coalition. She has played lead roles in advocating for federal immigration reform, promoting educational equity, advancing criminal justice reform and protecting voting rights. With her organizing background, she has shaped federal and state policy; trained and engaged activists from Portland to Biloxi on progressive issues; created and implemented issue campaigns at the federal and state levels to pass legislation that promotes equality; and facilitated the participation of thousands of people in the political process.
Education -Â Jheanelle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Delaware and a Master of Public Administration in Social Policy from the American University.
Source: Jheanelle Wilkins.com
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Priorities
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