Kendra Brooks

Kendra Nicole Brooks (born July 9, 1972) is an American politician and activist. Brooks, a member of the Working Families Party (WFP), won a citywide at-large seat in the election to Philadelphia City Council on November 5, 2019. The council has seven at-large seats that go to the highest overall vote-getters with two seats reserved for a minority party. Brooks's initial 2019 election was the first time a third party candidate won the minority party seat since its inception in 1919, through the creation of the modern Philadelphia City Council. Brooks won reelection to Philadelphia City Council in 2023.

Early life and education Kendra Nicole Brooks was born in the Bronx on July 9, 1972, and raised in Nicetown, Philadelphia. She studied at Community College of Philadelphia and worked as a nursing assistant. She later received a Bachelors of Science in therapeutic recreation from Temple University and an MBA in management from Eastern University.

For this activism, she was placed on Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney's nominating committee for the new Board of Education.

Brooks and her campaign raised more money for a third-party candidate in a Philadelphia City-wide election than any previous candidate. She relied on small dollar donations as approximately two thirds of her donations were for $50 or less.

In the November 7, 2023, election, Brooks reprised her sixth-place finish, securing the most votes among the non-Democratic candidates for City Council at-large and winning reelection to her seat on Philadelphia City Council.

Political positions Brooks supports creating and preserving more affordable housing and expanding rent control, and is supportive of a Green New Deal for Philadelphia.

Personal life Brooks lives in Nicetown, Philadelphia with her four children.