Rep.
Yvonne S. Wilson, a Democrat, represents part of Jackson County (District 42)
in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Rep. Wilson was elected to
the House in August 1999 to fulfill an un-expired term. She is a member of the
Missouri Legislative Black Caucus, and member of the Board of Directors of the
Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. She is a member of the advisory
council to the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
(NBCSL) a member of the Education Committee of NBCSL; and member of NOBEL, a
national organization of Black Elected Legislative Women, a member of
Missouri’s Children’s Justice Commission, the Children’s Services Commission
and a member of the Commission On The Future Of Higher Education.
Prior to her legislative
duties, Rep. Wilson spent 35 years with The School District of Kansas City as a
teacher, consultant, principal and ultimately director of elementary education.
She also served as a consultant with the Division of Continuing Education at
Penn Valley Community College and as interim director of TALENT (Taking a Lead
in Educating New Teachers) at the Metropolitan Community Colleges of Kansas
City. She was the executive director of the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage
Center and Museum and during her six years on the Board of Curators of Lincoln
University of Missouri she served two terms as president of the board.
Other community involvement
for Rep. Wilson includes: membership on the Kansas City, City of Fountains
Foundation Board of Directors; Kansas City Sister City Commission; life member
of NAACP; life member of National Alumni Association of Lincoln University of
Missouri; Sheraton Estates Neighborhood Association; Freedom Incorporated board
of directors; and member of Delta Sigma Theta, sorority. In addition, she has
been the Jackson County Democratic committeewoman for Ward 16 since 1994 and is
the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including the 1996 Missouri
Legislative Black Caucus Gwen B. Giles Public Services award, 2001 Greater
Kansas City NAACP Leadership Award, the 2001 Missouri Community Colleges
Association Distinguished Legislative Award and the 2002 Lincoln University
National Alumni Presidential Award.
A native Kansas Citian, Rep.
Wilson has traveled extensively including trips to Russia, Egypt, Kenya,
Uganda, Ghana, South Africa, England, France, Tanzania and China.
Rep. Wilson currently resides
in Kansas City with her husband of 51 years, Jim. They have three children:
Berishia Wilson Chamberlain, Alycia Rodriguez Nichols and James E. (Jay) Wilson
(deceased), five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.