The Honorable U.S. Rep. Julia M. Carson comes from humble beginnings but has a distinguished career of public and community service spanning decades. The Louisville, Ky. native made history in 1996 by becoming the first woman and the first African-American to represent Indianapolis in Congress. Previously, she served 18 years in the Indiana General Assembly and six years as Center Township Trustee in Marion County.

Compassion and common sense are her trademarks. As a state representative and senator, Rep. Carson sponsored legislation to encourage in-home health care and ease the collection of child support, while serving as a fiscal watchdog.

As Center Township Trustee, she took over a poor relief office saddled with $20 million in debt. By instituting an aggressive workfare program and anti-fraud procedures, she erased the debt while providing much needed emergency services. Her fiscal acumen and management skills twice lead her to being named The Indianapolis Star’s Woman of the Year.

In 1999, President Clinton signed into law Congresswoman Carson’s bill to authorize a Congressional Gold Medal for Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks. She and Sen. Lugar authored bi-partisan language that resulted in more children being eligible for Indiana’s Children’s Health Insurance Program. She has long been a champion of literacy programs, including financial literacy, HIV/AIDS awareness, and ending homelessness.