Tell Us About Yourself

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Party Affiliation: I have been endorsed by the DFL and Our Revolution. I identify as an independent.
Do you own or rent your home? Own

Let’s Get To Know You

What is your favorite album?

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Who are your heroes?

Shirley Chisolm, Maxine Waters, Shirley Green (my mother), Harriet Tubman

How do you plan to engage with and be held accountable by community once you are elected?

As an elected official, my work will be made public, I will engage with residents, neighbors, business owners, and others through forums, community events, social media, newsletters, etc. I believe it is up to an engaged citizenry to held myself and other elected officials accountable.

What’s your favorite thing about Minneapolis?

I love the lakes in our city, I love the arts community here, and the people. We live in one of the best cities in America, for whites.

The Issues

Why should young people be invested in local politics?

Because the decisions being made impact their lives.

Where do the inequities in our city stem from?

White Supremacy

What single issue could have the biggest impact in closing racial disparities in our city?

Is this a serious question? Ending White Supremacy.

Do you believe that we could ever have a city without police?

No

What would you do, as an elected official, to bring us closer to police abolition?

I would try to get rid of all the guns, everyone has guns. Men beat their wives and girlfriends, we don’t need to get rid of police, we need to end white supremacy, patriarchy and racism.

How do we continue to grow our city without displacing the people that want to stay here?

Equitable development, more funding for affordable housing, community co-ops, community development corporations, there are a lot of solutions, but people, have to do the work. I hear from a lot of white that they don’t like gentrification, and my response is STOP doing it. Short of that people have to get involved, we need neighborhood plans that determine what types of development we want in our communities. This takes work, resources and time.

How will you fight against state preemption of local control?

I would work to elect state legislators that will support local initiatives. Elections matter, people have to get out and vote.

What policy changes are necessary to improve the health of all Minneapolis residents?

Universal Healthcare. Single Payer Healthcare. Medicare for all. Whatever you want to call it, everyone should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. I will work tirelessly with state legislators to bring this to fruition.

How can the city improve our transportation infrastructure?

The city needs to continue to develop multi modes of transportation, we need to improve pedestrian opportunities, and have more options for cycling. We need to have more bus rapid transit routes and dedicated bus lanes. We also need to include more people of color in the decisions impacting where transit goes.

How will you work to improve conditions for workers in our city?

Work to end pay disparities between men and women, starting at the City of Minneapolis, to set the example. I support paid sick leave, and $15.00 minimum wage, but we must be aware of the impacts of some of these policies and ensure that low income women and families are able to have medical insurance and other supports that are income based.

How do you define sanctuary city? Do you believe that Minneapolis should fill this role and what would you do to make this happen?

I define it as a city that enforces it local laws, without complicity cooperating with the federal government to deport immigrants to their previous home countries. I believe that Minneapolis should absolutely be a sanctuary city, I would work with groups to promote municipal i.d’s.

What is the role of city government in shaping Minneapolis as the city of the future?

The city plays a large role in the shaping the city, from it’s built environment to supporting its cultural institutions. I believe that biggest role the city can play however, is shifting the collective narrative. We must all be committed to making Minneapolis the BEST city for Blacks to live in America, and I guarantee that if and when that happens, everyone will benefit from this beautiful city. To quote Congressman Keith Ellison, “Everybody Counts, Everybody Matters.

Anything else you want people to know?

I am a poet, artist, writer, and performance artist. I believe that “Art. Changes. Things.” Chinese artist Ai Weiwei says, ” Art can confront and raise the consciousness of others in the most plain and gentle way” I will bring the power of the creative process to my policy work in City Hall. Together we can change Minneapolis through Leadership. Access. Equity.

For more information, visit www.andreajenkinsforward8.org. 

Tell Us About Yourself

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Party Affiliation: Green Party
Do you own or rent your home? Own

Let’s Get To Know You

What is your favorite album?

I don’t have a favorite, I like Thelonious Monk & Buddy Rich.

Who are your heroes?

Henry David Thoreau, Edward Abbey, Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr.

How do you plan to engage with and be held accountable by community once you are elected?

I will have open office hours, attend neighborhood organization meetings and events, and hold regular morning events with speakers from the community and government. I will tell people how I plan to vote on issues and listen to residents. I have found that people in the community have an enormous amount of collective wisdom.

What’s your favorite thing about Minneapolis?

The community of people that are committed to seeing Minneapolis be a better place. There is also great food, live music, and parks.

The Issues

Why should young people be invested in local politics?

It is their future and they have a creative, inventive outlook that could help make the city more inclusive and just.

Where do the inequities in our city stem from?

Capitalism and the legacy of slavery that made the accumulation of wealth possible.

What single issue could have the biggest impact in closing racial disparities in our city?

Too few people have too much of the wealth. I will support policies that favor people over large corporations and their owners.

Do you believe that we could ever have a city without police?

No

What would you do, as an elected official, to bring us closer to police abolition?

I do not think the police should be abolished, but I do believe nonviolence needs to be a core value. I’d also like to see more police from Minneapolis. Only 8% are currently from here.

How do we continue to grow our city without displacing the people that want to stay here?

My proposals for affordable housing can be found here: bit.ly/2xh1V97.

How will you fight against state preemption of local control?

I think the city council has to be vocal when state preemption legislation is introduced and work with representatives to allow more local control.

What policy changes are necessary to improve the health of all Minneapolis residents?

I will seek to close the downtown garbage incinerator. I will also encourage more walking, biking, and use of public transportation.

How can the city improve our transportation infrastructure?

Keep the cost of using public transportation affordable, heated bus stops, better routes, and more bus rapid transit.

How will you work to improve conditions for workers in our city?

Businesses will need to provide documentation that wages are being paid and sick time is allowed. Businesses that provide healthcare to workers should be supported. Use the city budget to contract with companies that treat workers fairly.

How do you define sanctuary city? Do you believe that Minneapolis should fill this role and what would you do to make this happen?

Police need to keep any records of citizenship separate from arrest records and not provide them to the federal government.

What is the role of city government in shaping Minneapolis as the city of the future?

Sustainable development that meets or exceeds recognized environmental standards. Create spaces that encourage community and keep wealthy developers from being the sole voice in how our city is shaped. The DFL over-paid for the football stadium. I would vote against giveaways to billionaires and call for annual audits of on-going spending for the stadium.

Anything else you want people to know? 

Right now, the city needs leaders that are thoughtful, creative, and able to weigh all sides of an issue calmly. We need leaders that value cooperation over personal advancement. I am such a leader. I am a parent, a husband, an environmentalist, a reader, a thinker, and have a proven ability to bring people of diverse backgrounds together to achieve common goals. By supporting me, you are supporting a candidate dedicated to creating a legacy in Minneapolis of fairness and justice.

For more information, visit www.terryforward8.org.