Katie McWatt

She was born in Minneapolis and is a life long resident of the Twin Cities. Mrs. McWatt currently resides in St. Paul with her husband, Arthur McWatt, a retired teacher. They are the proud parents of four adult children: Timothy, Stacy, Christopher, and Lynn. They have five grandchildren. Mrs. McWatt graduated from the Minneapolis public schools and earned a Bachelor´s Degree from the University of Minnesota. In 1964, she successfully campaigned to win a place in the primary election for a seat on the St. Paul City Council. She polled over 38,000 votes in the general election and helped to overcome barriers for others concerned about political power. She carried her precinct by 90 percent. She was the first Chairperson of the St. Paul Housing Committee and held a series of public hearings on the issue of Fair Housing that led to enactment of St. Paul´s Fair Housing ordinance. She assisted the Afro American Brotherhood Group at Stillwater Prison in resolving administrative/inmate conflicts , participated in many protest demonstrations to increase fobs for Black people that caused her arrest, lobbied at the Minnesota State legislature for equal treatment for African-American citizens, and was a complainant in a suit against a local restaurant for discriminatory service. Mrs. Mcwatt was director of Community Services from 1965-1982, for the St. Paul Urban League and was an advocate for improved educational programs. After leaving the League, she became Coordinator of the Central High School Minority Education Program for seventeen years and retired in 2000. Katie McWatt has received various awards for her service to the community and civil rights. She now serves on the board of the St. Paul Branch of the NAACP. Leland Johnson Common Vision Program and the local radio station KMOJ.

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