​WHO IS BRANDON WASHINGTON?

​A Proud TrailBlazing Memphian!

I am proud to say that I was born and raised in Memphis. Though I come from Orange Mound, I have lived in most communities in this beautiful city. I am a proud product of Memphis Shelby County Schools. At age 14, I was named valedictorian of the first graduating class of Hanley Middle School. I graduated from Middle College High School at Christian Brothers University.

When I was 15, my life drastically changed when I entered the foster care system. Although my life was turned upside down, I did not let adversity stop me. I got involved in many organizations, including Facing History and Ourselves and Youth Court, which opened my eyes wider to the inequities that impacted our communities and equipped me with advocacy skills that I continue to use.

Thanks to the help of those around me, I was selected for the Posse Foundation leadership merit scholarship to Rhodes College, where I study Russian and International Studies with a minor in Politics and Law. My life experiences have allowed me to connect with the people of Memphis more profoundly and have ignited in me a desire to walk in the footsteps of great Memphians who have come before me in the fight for justice and equality.

This passion, coupled with my advocacy skills, has opened the door for me to speak to local and national decision-makers. In my role with the Tennessee Young Adult Advisory Council, I have sat down with the Commissioner of DCS regarding issues that youth aging out of the foster care system face. These discussions have resulted in tangible solutions for foster youth; for example, one bill would raise the age of extensional foster care so that people transitioning out of foster care receive the support they need. I also traveled to D.C., where I spoke to the U.S. Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, NGO leaders, and lawmakers about foster care and how we can improve it. We successfully advocated expanding SNAP benefits to cover more homeless individuals, veterans, and youth transitioning out of the foster care system. President Biden signed this into law via the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.


A Visonary 

As I spoke with my lawmakers, I realized that not all legislators take the time to listen to the people they represent. I got tired of seeing headlines about advocates burning out because their representatives weren't paying attention to their concerns. I know this isn't the way that the government is supposed to work. I want to be the kind of lawmaker Memphians can count on to listen to and respond to their concerns. 

Memphis is much more than the negative headlines we see on the news. Memphis matters and is full of potential waiting to be unlocked. Together, we can build a Memphis filled with beautiful and thriving neighborhoods, high-quality infrastructure, and an empowered youth population. Let's come together to create a city that works for everyone!
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Important DaTES

Upcoming Events
Join me at BLDG'S 2023 Community Development Candidate Forum
​Location: Benjamin Hooks Library in the Conference Room
3030 Poplar Ave 
Time: 5pm -7pm 
Election Dates
Election Day: October 5,2023
Voter Registration Deadline:
Sept 5, 2023
First Day for Absentee Request: July 7, 2023
Last Day for Absentee Request: Sept 28, 2023
First Day for Early Voting:     
Sept 15, 2023
Last Day for Early Voting:     
​Sept 30, 2023



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ANNOUNCEMENT Video/media Coverage

Video Goes here above all the Articles


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