One of 10 children, Franchelle C.H. Parker was born and raised in Niagara Falls, N.Y. From a very early age, Parker credits her great-grandparents for instilling the importance of hard work, the love of God and the love of humanity in her. Parker attended Buffalo State College, where she majored in Political Science and African-American Studies. As Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Parker traveled the country presenting her research on connecting music and activism. She also presented research on mandatory minimum drug sentencing laws and community impact, and New York State Rockefeller Drug Laws, which led her to a fellowship with the Congressional Black Caucus on Capitol Hill. Parker attended the University at Albany for her graduate education, where she majored in Public Policy.
After she completed her education, Parker took her political and organizing skills to 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, where she would spend the next seven years managing the union’s communication, political and community outreach efforts. As the organization’s Western New York Communication Coordinator, Parker also traveled the country organizing for health care reform and dozens of political campaigns.
Locally, Parker has served as a board member for the Western New York Area Labor Federation, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, and as President for the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (Buffalo Chapter).
In her free time, Parker volunteers with the Buffalo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where she is the chair of the social action committee and numerous other efforts to create pathways to college for African-American youth across Western New York.
Photo by Alana Adetola Arts Photography, LLC.