Charlie Brown (born March 8, 1938) is a former American

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

who is a Democratic member of the

Indiana House of Representatives The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House memb ...

representing the 3rd District (1982-2018). Brown, who is African-American, is a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. In 2017, Brown announced that he would not be running for reelection to the State House.

Early life

On March 8, 1938, Brown was born in

Williston, South Carolina Williston is a town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,139 at the 2010 census. The town lies in the center of the Charleston-Hamburg railroad line, the line of the Best Friend locomotive. The train tracks we ...

. Brown grew up in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

Education

In 1961, Brown earned a bachelor's degree from

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a public historically black university in Cheyney, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1837, it is the oldest university out of all historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the United States. It is a m ...

(formerly Cheyney State Teachers' College), a public historical Black institution, in

Cheyney, Pennsylvania Cheyney is an unincorporated community that sits astride Chester and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It corresponds to the census-designated place known as Cheyney University, which had a population of 988 at the 2010 census ...

. In 1982, Brown earned a master's degree from Indiana University Northwest.

Career

In 1961, Brown became a teacher at the

Gary Community School Corporation Gary Community School Corporation serves most students who reside in Gary, Indiana. History In 2017, Gary Community Corp became the first school system in Indiana involved in a state takeover. Control of the district was transferred from the ...

until 1968. From 1968 to 1988, Brown was youth coordinator, Mayor's assistant on youth activities, director of the Youth Services Bureau, affirmative action officer and risk manager for the City of Gary. In 1982, Brown became a member of the Indiana House of Representatives for District 3. In 1988, Brown became the CEO of the Gary Community Mental Health Center, a position he held until 1993. Brown is a consultant providing health and management services to entities seeking to foster positive interaction between governmental bodies and the community.

Politics

First elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1982, Brown has been a chairman of the Indiana House Standing Committee on Public Health. In 2007, Brown sponsored a bill enacting a new statewide effort to promote improved health care for

Hoosier Hoosier is the official demonym for the people of the U.S. state of Indiana. The origin of the term remains a matter of debate, but "Hoosier" was in general use by the 1840s, having been popularized by Richmond resident John Finley's 1833 poem "T ...

s. Known as the Indiana Checkup Plan, House Enrolled Act 1678 (Public Law 218–2007) provides expanded health insurance availability, improved prenatal care for expectant mothers and a bipartisan effort to encourage establishment of wellness programs among Indiana employers of all sizes. In 2010, Brown announced a partnership he initiated between the Gary Community Health Center and a

medicaid Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and pers ...

dentist. "This is a first that is starting here in Gary, Ind., that we have a private sector entity joining with the public and producing a service that is sorely needed," Brown said. "This goes to show you that Gary can be first in something positive." Brown also serves on the

National Conference of State Legislatures The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), established in 1975, is a "nonpartisan public officials’ association composed of sitting state legislators" from the states, territories and commonwealths of the United States. Background ...

health committee and is a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus.

Personal life

Brown's wife is Angela Baker Brown. They have one child. Brown lives in Gary, Indiana.

References

External links

Charlie Brown (Indiana) at ballotpedia.org
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Charlie Democratic Party members of the Indiana House of Representatives 1938 births Living people African-American state legislators in Indiana 21st-century American politicians Politicians from Gary, Indiana People from Williston, South Carolina Politicians from Philadelphia 21st-century African-American politicians 20th-century African-American politicians