About State Senator Frederica Wilson
State Senator Frederica Wilson is running for the Congressional District 17 seat, which Congressman Kendrick Meek is vacating to run for the US Senate. Senator Wilson succeeded Congressman Meek in the Florida House of Representatives and then the Florida Senate, and now she hopes to succeed him in Congress.
In her more than a decade of service in the Florida State Legislature, as a State Representative (1998-2002) and State Senator (2002-present), Senator Wilson has already represented many of the communities making up Congressional District 17. She has also served the community as a teacher, principal and school board member.
"This is a District I already know well," Senator Wilson said. "These are the same schools, businesses and families I've worked with and fought for my whole career. And just as I've made sure these communities had a voice in Tallahassee, I will do the same for them in Washington."
Senator Wilson continued, "Our nation faces unprecedented challenges. Families are losing their jobs and their homes. Schools are struggling to find the resources to educate our children. Our communities need help now, and they need leaders in Washington that understand that. And I do."
A Lifetime of Service
Her entire career, Senator Wilson has stood up for those without a voice. As a school principal she stood up for her students and their families and fought against an environmentally dangerous composting plant that was built across the street from her school. She won the battle, and the Miami Dade County Commission was forced to close the plant.
She also took a stand when Haitian refugees were incarcerated in a local detention center in 1984. Senator Wilson personally and tirelessly lobbied Congress for the fair treatment of these refugees. And because of her efforts, all of the women held in the detention center were released. Senator Wilson was later named to the Haitian Refugee Center Board of Directors in recognition of her committed service to the Haitian community.
As a member of the Miami-Dade County School Board, Senator Wilson introduced reading labs and an African-American history curriculum into our schools, as well as a dirty-dancing ban in our community. She also established herself as a leader prepared to tackle the county’s most difficult challenges.
The 5000 Role Model of Excellence Program
It was while she was serving on the School Board that Senator Wilson saw the need for a program to intervene in the lives of at-risk youth before it was too late. Many said the problem was insurmountable, but Senator Wilson knew she could make a difference. 
She founded the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Program, which has become a national model for drop-out prevention programs,. Its foundation has awarded more than $5 million dollars in scholarships to minority boys since its inception in 1992 and has helped thousands of young boys turn around their lives. It currently operates in 110 Miami-Dade County Schools and helps more than 6000 youth. The Program has received numerous awards including Florida’s Promise to Youth award and the President’s Summit for America’s Future Teaching Example for the Nation award.
“We were losing generations of our children. They didn’t believe the American Dream was for them. They didn’t believe in the future because they didn’t believe they had one, and that’s why I started the 5000 Role Models Program,” Senator Wilson explained. “The program molds good men, good husbands and good fathers for the next generation.”
A Record of Accomplishment
“Change only happens when someone rolls up their sleeves and takes a stand. And it’s that determination and commitment that I’ll take with me to Washington. We’ve got a lot of challenges in front of us, and the time for talk is over. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and bring the change our families need.”
As a state legislator, Senator Wilson has been a vigilant supporter of quality public education. Her tenure in Tallahassee has been recognized both for her effectiveness and her ability to work across party lines. While others have merely spoken about bipartisanship, Senator Wilson has practiced it. She worked with then-Governor Jeb Bush to remove the Confederate flag from the state capitol, to start HIV/AIDS testing in prisons and to reform the implementation of the FCAT. She joined with Governor Charlie Crist to achieve the restoration of voting rights for felons. Senator Wilson’s legislative career has been one of significant accomplishment.
During the 2008 Presidential contest, Senator Wilson was among the first elected officials in Florida to endorse Barack Obama and served as one of the campaign’s surrogate speakers. She was also elected as one of Florida’s 27 electors for the Obama Presidency.
Honors and Awards
• The National Medical Association, Scroll of Merit for Public Education Advocacy, 2008
• American School Health Association, Legislator of the Year, 2008
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority International, Rosa Parks Coretta Scott King Award, 2008
• Florida Association of Counties (FAC), County Partner Award, 2008
• Florida Cable Telecommunications Association, Leaders in Learning Award, 2008
• NAACP Milton Morris Award, 2007
• Jessie C. Trice Humanitarian Award, 2007
• Liberty City's Community Action Agency, Community Service Award, 2007
• Miami Dade College, Pathway to Opportunity Appreciation Award, 2007
• Florida Association of School Administrators, Legislator of the Year, 2007
• Florida Association of Women Lawyers, Legislative Recognition Award, 2007
• SEIU Florida Healthcare Union, Legislative Hero Award, 2006
• Barry University, SGA Acknowledgement of Florida's Residents Access Grant Award, 2006
• City of Miami, Women Builders of Community Dreams Award, 2006
• Florida Memorial University, SGA Leadership Character and Service Award, 2006
• Holy Faith Missionary Baptist Church, Participation Award, 2006
• Miami-Dade Police Department, Appreciation Award, 2006
• The Historic St. Agnes Episcopal Church, 108th Anniversary Appreciation Award, 2006
• FAU, Small Business Development Appreciation Award, 2006
• Day of the Child, Mentoring Award, 2006
• Project H.O.P.E., Katrina Humanitarian Award, 2006
• South Florida Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Audrey McCollum Scholarship Award, 2006
• CEO Magazine, Legislative Action Recognition, 2006
• Community Action Agency, Youth Leadership Award, 2006
• I.B.P.O.E. of W., Antlers Temple #39, Legislative Excellence Award, 2006
• Community Health of South Dade, Inc., Health Hero Award, 2006
• Health Council of South Florida, Inc., Health Leadership Award, 2006
• National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Greater Miami Chapter, Candace Award, 2006
• Kiwanis Club of Miami Shores, North Dade Exemplary Service Award, 2006
• Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Rosemary Barkett Award, 2006
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Ft. Pierce, FL Chapter, Soror of the Year, 2005
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Ft. Walton Beach, FL Chapter, Soror of the Year, 2005
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Thomasville, GA Chapter, Soror of the Year, 2005
• Carrie P. Meek Education Leadership Achievement Award, 2005
• Miami Gardens Jaycees, Distinguished Service Award, 2005
• Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Emerald Service Award, 2005
• The Links, Inc., Links of Gold Award, 2005
• Community Action Agency, Citizen of the Year Award, 2004
• American Cancer Society, Florida Chapter, Legislative Leadership Award, 2004
• Florida Education Association, Educator of the Year, 2004
• Association of Black Health-System Pharmacists, Legislator Achievement Award, 2004
• Easter Seals of Miami-Dade, Legislator of the Year Award, 2004
• Northside Seventh Day Adventist Church (Miami), Distinguished Community Leader Award, 2004
• The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc., Chairman's Award, 2004
• Sierra Club, Florida Chapter, Legislative Recognition Award, 2004
• NAACP, Florida Chapter, Morris Milton Memorial Award, 2001
• American Red Cross, Spectrum Award, 1998
• African-American Achiever Award for Education, 1998
• President's Summit for America's Future, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Miami Delegate, 1997
• Miami-Dade County "Keep Me Safe" summit, march, and candlelight vigil, founder, 1997
• State of Florida "STOP DAY," Enough is Enough, founder, 1996
