Page 12 - CEO Impact Awards, 2024

• Established the annual HBCU Braintrust, which allows faculty, staff and students from historically black colleges to visit the nation’s capital to promote their institutions with government officials and corporate leaders.
She is also a member of the Progressive Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Diabetes Caucus, Autism Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Historic Preservation Caucus, AIDS/HIV Caucus, Hunger Caucus, Medicaid Expansion Caucus, the Equality Caucus, and the Art Caucus.
Throughout her career, Representative Adams has
fought for a quality education for all students, including legislation to provide nutritious breakfasts in schools and increased pay for teachers. For 40 years, Dr. Adams taught Art at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. While at Bennett, she led the effort to increase student civic participation coining the phrase “Bennett Belles
are Voting Belles” and organizing annual marches to the polls. As a former educator, Rep. Adams has dedicated
her career to improving the lives of young people and
her community. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the North Carolina A&T State University Human Rights Medal, the highest award presented by her alma mater to an individual who fights against social injustice and helps improve the world, and was inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Dr. Adams was appointed by her peers to serve in the North Carolina House District 26 seat. She went on to serve ten terms in the State House. During
her tenure, she rose to become the chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and was instrumental in passing legislation that improved the climate for quality affordable health care in the state. Representative Adams also pioneered the Displaced Homemakers Bill and successfully spearheaded the state’s first minimum wage increase in nine years.
Before serving as a member of the North Carolina General Assembly, Congresswoman Adams served nine years on the Greensboro City Council. Throughout her service to the second district in Greensboro, Dr. Adams worked to create safe and affordable housing and for the revitalization of neighbors. She began her political career in the 1980’s by becoming the first African American woman ever elected to the Greensboro City School Board. It was then that she made a lifetime commitment to effecting social change in her community and beyond.
Congresswoman Adams has one daughter, Linda Jeanelle Lindsay, one son Billy E. Adams II, and four grandchildren: Joslyn Lindsay, Aaron Lindsay, Billy E. Adams III, and Miracle Sumner. Representative Adams graduated from North Carolina A&T State University in 1968 and received her master’s degree in Art Education in 1972. She earned her Ph.D. in Art Education and Multicultural Education from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio in 1981. She has 13 honorary degrees, 12 coming from HBCUs.
12 TMCF.ORG