Maxine Waters (1938- )
Former California Assemblymember and current U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ long career in public service continues to influence generations of California residents and U.S. citizens at large. Spending her childhood in St. Louis, Missouri, and later moving to California, Waters worked in restaurants and factories. She earned a degree in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles, and subsequently worked as an educator and organizer for the Head Start Program. From 1976 to 1990, Waters served as a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 48th Assembly district. Her work in the assembly included an anti-apartheid measure which diverted California funds from the apartheid government of South Africa, support of affirmative action, and the institution of gender-inclusive assembly language. She was also a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Since 1990, Waters has served as a Congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives and currently represents the 43rd congressional district of California. She is known also for her intergenerational activism, including an active social media presence.