Vote Charlene Tarver for County Leg District 16 in the June 23rd Democratic Primary!
A LIFETIME OF PUBLIC POLICY AND SERVICE
Charlene Tarver has spent her life and career advocating for marginalized people. From her early years working with runaway and throwaway youth in New York City’s Covenant House Legal Services, assessing HIV/AIDS and homeless residents through NYU’s Health Research Project, and volunteering with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Volunteers in Probation (VIP), Tarver has been a tireless advocate for opportunity and upward mobility. That pathway led her through the NYS Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Public Defender’s Office, to the Women’s Economic Institute, which she founded in 2017.
Charlene has lived and worked in major metropolitan cities across the country (NYC, Washington, DC, San Diego, Oakland, and Phoenix/Scottsdale metro) for more than 33 years championing causes that support women, girls, and vulnerable populations. Having spent close to 18 years in Phoenix Metro, Arizona Charlene was actively involved in the Democratic Party and served as a PCP (precinct committee person), a DNC Alt Delegate for Hilary Clinton, and worked on President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns. She also served on the Arizona List Board and formed and led the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc (Phoenix Metro) to advocate for health, education and economic development for women and girls.
Charlene has been an advocate on legislation for body worn cameras, overturning the state’s lifetime cap on public assistance benefits, reinstating Black history and curriculum in AZ schools, and hiring Phoenix’s 1st Black female police chief. And in 2020, during COVID-19, Charlene formed and led a coalition lobbying former Governor Doug Ducey (R) to close the state and issue moratoriums on evictions and utility shut offs. Charlene held Mayoral appointments on the Parks and Rec Board, Industrial Development Authority’s Board, and the Pension Reform Task Force. And served on the Sheriff’s Advisory Board, the Governor’s African American Advisory Board, and the ASU President’s Advisory Board. She is a policy fellow of Leading for Change and the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy and an emeriti member of the Georgetown University African American Alumni Council. Charlene earned a BA in Sociology from NYU (1993), a JD from UB Law (1996), her LL.M. in Tax and CEBS from Georgetown Law (2003), and a certificate in executive management from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown (2023). Charlene has a lifelong, demonstrated commitment and track record of public policy and service.
A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT FOR HER COMMUNITY
Charlene's a lifelong Democrat, a lifelong community servant, and a daughter of Syracuse.
Since returning to the city in May 2021, Charlene launched an incubator supporting minority and women entrepreneurs, an incubator supporting non-profits, an Expo marketplace for small businesses, and is developing a $42M+ mixed-use senior affordable housing project with a ground floor food and retail incubator on the city’s South side, where she grew up. Charlene's a worker!!!! Her family has lived in Syracuse more than 50 years, more than 3 generations, and were the proud owner-operators of Oasis Fish House (home of the comeback fish sandwich and one of the Souhside's early Black-owned restaurants).
Charlene values the principles of civil and human rights, immigration, and women's reproductive health. She will fight across the county and state to ensure all residents have a voice.
A DAUGHTER OF SYRACUSE
SYRACUSE BORN
Syracuse strong
SYRACUSE BORN
Roosevelt and Mary Tarver migrated to Syracuse from Alabama in the late 1960’s w/ a strong work ethic and family values. They bought their family's first home on West Colvin Street, the City’s Southside, and owned two small businesses—Oasis Fish House and a dry cleaners on the Westside. Oasis served the Southside close to 20 years and th
Roosevelt and Mary Tarver migrated to Syracuse from Alabama in the late 1960’s w/ a strong work ethic and family values. They bought their family's first home on West Colvin Street, the City’s Southside, and owned two small businesses—Oasis Fish House and a dry cleaners on the Westside. Oasis served the Southside close to 20 years and the Tarver’s raised four children and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren in the Southside community. 50+ years; and 3 generations.
Syracuse bred
Syracuse strong
SYRACUSE BORN
Charlene and her older sister Phyllis attended St Anthony of Padua and were later bused to Bishop Grimes in East Syracuse where Charlene competed in the NAACP ACTSO, the Forensics Speech and Debate Club, she ran track and field, and served as class president. As young girls, Phyllis and Charlene worked in the family restaurant developing
Charlene and her older sister Phyllis attended St Anthony of Padua and were later bused to Bishop Grimes in East Syracuse where Charlene competed in the NAACP ACTSO, the Forensics Speech and Debate Club, she ran track and field, and served as class president. As young girls, Phyllis and Charlene worked in the family restaurant developing a keen understanding of the difficulties involved in running a small, minority-owned business. Phylis later attended Cornell and Charlene NYU.
Syracuse strong
Syracuse strong
Syracuse strong
Charlene graduated from NYU with a BA in Sociology (1993), her JD from UB Law (1996), an LL.M. in Tax and CEBS from Georgetown Law (2003), and an Executive Mgmt. Cert from Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy (2023). Charlene serves on the Syracuse Community Health Center board and is an emeriti member of Georgetown’s Black Alumni
Charlene graduated from NYU with a BA in Sociology (1993), her JD from UB Law (1996), an LL.M. in Tax and CEBS from Georgetown Law (2003), and an Executive Mgmt. Cert from Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy (2023). Charlene serves on the Syracuse Community Health Center board and is an emeriti member of Georgetown’s Black Alumni Council. She's had a distinguished career of board service, with numerous accolades, which she attributes to growing up a native of Syracuse.
CHANGE AGENT
Throughout her career Charlene’s been known as a change agent and trailblazer. She‘s a rainmaker for BIPOC women and girls and a huge proponent of inclusion, social justice, and community and economic development that strategically addresses food and housing security.
THOUGHT LEADER
Charlene has extensive experience in public policy. From her work on COVID-19, womenomics, and the race and gender pay gap to her advocacy on health equity, food security, housing affordability, and police body worn cameras, Charlene is a national voice.
SAD’E AND IM’AN’S MOM
Of Charlene's many accomplishments, the single most important (bar-none) is being Sad'e and Im’an's mom. As a mother of identical twin daughters, Charlene understands first-hand the high cost of healthcare, childcare, and groceries. The twins are a rare mono-mono birth and were born in Syracuse at Crouse Irving Hospital.
Community Dialogue and Book Tour
Meet civil rights attorney Ben Crump on his Worse Than A Lie book tour.