Higher Heights was proud to endorse Cherelle Parker for Philadelphia Mayor!
Cherelle Parker earned a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University, where she pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and earned her master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
After receiving her undergraduate degree, she taught public school as a high school English teacher and ESL teacher working with immigrant children and adults.
Lured back to public service by Councilwoman Tasco, she accepted a position in her council office and rose to serve as a senior staffer, where she oversaw – among many other things – the implementation of all economic and community development initiatives that helped neighborhoods and business corridors thrive. By the time she left, she was one of Councilwoman Tasco’s most trusted advisors.
Cherelle served for ten years (2005 – 2015) as a State Representative representing Northwest Philadelphia. She made history as the youngest African-American woman elected to the State Legislature by winning her election. In Harrisburg, her colleagues elected her to chair the Philadelphia Delegation. In this role, she earned her reputation as one of the most effective legislators in Harrisburg.
Cherelle took her penchant for getting things done to City Council in 2016, representing Northwest Philadelphia and the lower Northeast – some of the city’s most stable and diverse working-class communities. On the City Council, her colleagues elected her to serve as the Council Majority Leader. In this role, she focused on public safety, stabilizing “middle neighborhoods,” economic opportunity – especially for small businesses, and working on getting city government to function as it should.