Longtime educator and women’s healthcare advocate Jenn Shabazz launches her campaign for St. Joseph County Council.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Flanked by a diverse gathering of supporters and community leaders, longtime educator and women’s healthcare advocate Jenn Shabazz kicked off her campaign for St. Joseph County Council District D on Sunday. 

“As a mother, an educator, and women’s healthcare advocate, our campaign will stand up for all county residents,” declared Shabazz. “Our county government directly impacts the health, safety, and freedoms of our residents. In just two years, we have lost millions in healthcare grants, seen important community assets like Portage Manor and the planned crisis response center pushed aside, and found our libraries and schools under attack.”

In 2008, Shabazz worked as a Regional Director for then-President Barack Obama’s Organizing for America group helping lead a nationwide grassroots effort to pass the Affordable Care Act (ACA). As a member of the County Council, Shabazz will prioritize women’s healthcare, family health, and mental health.

Also, to highlight another of her priorities -- defending libraries from right-wing bans on books -- Shabazz’s launch was held at Brain Lair Books in South Bend.

Shabazz, a Western Michigan University graduate, has called the South Bend community home for over two decades and is a member of the South Bend Teachers Union. She and her husband Muhammad have four children.

“I am passionate about serving our community and fighting for equal rights for everyone,” concluded Shabazz. “We will govern with fairness and honesty and always fight for our county’s working-class families.”