Susan Allen
Susan Allen ‘s incredible drive and dedication to public service helped her overcome a childhood marked by poverty and transience–and propelled her to the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she was elected as its first Native American female member. She is also the first Native American out lesbian to serve in any state legislature. Allen moved from place to place during her childhood, living on Indian reservations or cities with prominent Native American communities; by the time she finished eighth grade, she had attended more than 20 schools. She raised a son as a single parent, then attended law school to earn professional and advanced law degrees. She became a partner at the firm of Fredericks, Peebles & Morgan, where she provides legal counsel to Native American tribes and tribal entities on complex commercial transactions, corporate governance and taxation. Now representing the ethnically diverse communities of South Minneapolis, Allen won her seat in Minnesota House of Representatives in a special election this past January. Her own challenges still influence her call to service. “Having experienced social exclusion and discrimination, I ran for office to be at the forefront in fighting discrimination in housing, transportation, employment opportunities, healthcare and other areas of social and economic life,” Allen says.
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