Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins is proud to be the first openly transgender black woman elected to public office in the U.S. But it's public service itself that gives the longtime city official and activist a sense of purpose.
"It's really a great honor to be included in those categories, but even more so to be able to sit in the Minneapolis City Council and represent my community on matters that are important to them and try to help people have better lives," Jenkins told Cheddar.
Jenkins is no political rookie. She worked as a staff member and policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council for 12 years before leaving City Hall briefly to focus on writing and activism.
She curated the Transgender Oral History Project for the University of Minnesota's Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies. The project compiled the stories of trans and gender non-conforming people in the upper Midwest.
Her poetry collection, The T is Not Silent: new and selected poems, about the plight and invisibility of the trans community, came out around the same time.
Jenkins decided to run for City Council in 2016 and was elected in 2018 along with Phillipe Cunningham, who is one of the first openly transgender men to be elected to public office.
Since then, she's helped pass a local ban on conversion therapy after the Minnesota state legislature failed to agree on the language for a statewide ban.
However, Jenkins isn't focused solely on LGBTQ issues though. The elected official has embraced her mandate to serve all of Minneapolis' needs.
"I've worked with different jurisdictions, the state government, the county government, seeking ways to end homelessness, to increase educational opportunities, to make sure that our roads and bridges are up to speed, to keep our eye focused on economic development, and to center communities of color in those conversations always," Jenkins said.
Jenkins' answer to solving the problem of violence against transgender people also encompasses broad-based economic policies.
"We stop this violence through creating more opportunities for trans and gender non-conforming people to have access to housing, to have access to full employment, to have opportunities for people to be a part of society," Jenkins said.
The lack of access to these resources and opportunities, she added, forces trans-people to the margins of society, where they are more likely to be exploited or threatened.
Looking beyond local politics, Jenkins cautiously voiced her support for Minnesota U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in the presidential election, though she said her personal choice was still an open question.
"We need a new president, so I will be supporting whoever is nominated in that process, whether it's Bernie Sanders, Mike Bloomberg, or whoever else," she said.
Lydia Simmons, founder of 'Moms Official Objective' or 'M.O.O.,' joins Cheddar News to discuss nutritional and hormonal support products for every stage of womanhood.
Plant-based hair extension company Rebundle recently raised $1.4 million in a pre-seed round led by M25. The company based in St. Louis says it is revolutionizing hair extensions with more comfort and less waste. Rebundle's braiding hair is made from a non-toxic, biodegradable plant, which the company says is better for the scalp and the environment. Rebundle Co-Founder and CEO Ciara Imani May and Co-Founder and CMO Danielle Washington joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
The metaverse platform Decentraland hosted its first wedding over the weekend. The union was overseen by Rose Law Group, at the firm's virtual property, hosting witnesses including 2,000 guests. The ceremony endured some technical glitches before being completed.
Alex Monaco, Host of 'The Bettor Half Hour,' joins Cheddar News to discuss what viewers can expect from MSG's 'Bet-A-Palooza,' and what casual sports fans should know about sports betting.
Actor, singer, and dancer Joey Fatone can now add chef to his repertoire, partnering with Schlotzsky’s, a pizza and sandwich restaurant franchise, to introduce the "Fatone Calzone." The triple threat entertainer joined Cheddar News to talk about the partnership as well as a potential NSYNC reunion. "So, it's like everybody's kind of everywhere. It's that moment of saying, do we want to get together? Do we do it? And how is it going to be done? You know, that kind of stuff. So, who knows? Never say never. Never say never," he explained.
The gaming industry has been under the spotlight so far this year following some big mergers and acquisitions. This week featured earnings of three major gaming companies, but also Meta and for the latter, things are not doing too hot. Joining Cheddar News to break it all down was Kenny Rosenblatt, President and Co-Founder of Arkadium.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has filed a lawsuit against his old team along with the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants. Flores alleged that the league has been following racist practices in its hiring process. Former NFL quarterback and Sports Analyst and Commentator, Lester Ray Ricard Jr, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Although this week's weather is predicted to be less severe than the 2021 storm, Texans are preparing for the worst - stocking up on supplies and emptying shelves in grocery stores, once again. Some Texans still have not recovered from last year's tragedy, and are heading into the next few weeks with anxiety for what's to come. Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Houston-based energy workforce & technology council, joins Cheddar News to discuss if the Texas grid will fail again.
