About Alma

Democrats in Congress are working hard to make your lives easier- cutting costs, lowering prices and making life more affordable. With your help, I’ll continue being a stakeholder representative who advocates for policies addressing the most urgent needs of the people back home.

“What Matters to You, Matters to Me.”

For Congresswoman Alma Adams, there are four necessities that all people require to live a quality life – affordable and accessible healthcare, access to healthy and nutritious food, fair and affordable housing, and a quality, first-class education. These essentials, which Alma calls “the 4H’s”, should not be political issues; they should be rights guaranteed to all people. She believes this because she knows personally how hard it is to survive without them.

Alma’s mother was a strong Black Christian woman, who was a domestic worker. She did not finish high school and did not get a college education, but she knew that education would be the pathway for her children. Alma saw that the only way for her to get ahead was through dedication, hard work and a good education. At different points during her childhood, Alma’s family lacked health insurance and didn’t have much in the way of resources. However, her mother sacrificed and pushed Alma to not only complete her own education but to pursue a path that led her to teach in the classroom as well.

Alma raised two wonderful children–including a daughter who followed Alma’s lead and became a teacher herself.

Alma’s introduction to politics was on her local School Board, where she became the first African American woman elected to that body and was a strong advocate for educational opportunities for everyone in her community. After serving on the School Board, Alma was elected to a seat on her City Council where she led efforts for affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization programs. Alma has never forgotten the importance of the work to keep a roof over people’s heads.

Alma was elected to the Greensboro City Council in 1987 and served nine years representing district two.

Alma was appointed to the NC General Assembly in 1994, subsequently re-elected and had a distinguished career of service for 20 ½ years in the North Carolina House of Representatives. She rose to become chair of the NC Legislative Black Caucus and The Black Caucus Foundation raising funds for North Carolina HBCU’s. During that time, Alma fought to improve the lives of women, children, and families. She successfully fought to increase North Carolina’s minimum wage; ensured children had access to free and reduced school lunch; and supported legislation for quality, affordable health care for seniors and children.

In 2014, Alma won a special election for North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District to fill the remaining term of Representative Mel Watt. During her time in Congress, Alma continued the fight to increase the minimum wage; launched the Adams’ Hunger Initiative to combat child hunger in North Carolina; and supported policies to finance billions of dollars of new affordable housing construction. As co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, along with Rep. Lauren Underwood, she has led efforts to combat high mortality rates among Black women during childbirth and pushed for the Momnibus, a package of fourteen bills focusing on better maternal health outcomes and reducing the disparities in women’s health. As co-founder and chair of the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU caucus, she has led the fight to keep Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as sustainable options for low-income, first-generation college students – just like herself. Fondly referred to as the “Godmother” of HBCU’s , Alma has been awarded fourteen (14) Honorary degrees to include thirteen (13) from HBCU’s.

Throughout her time in local and state elected office Alma taught art for forty years at Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina before being elected to the US Congress. Prior to her teaching and administrative career at Bennett, she taught art at Palmer Memorial Institute in Sedalia, North Carolina.

Alma has never forgotten where she came from – she has always strived to be a Congresswoman who opens doors of opportunity for all children, no matter the circumstances of their birth. She will continue to be a stakeholder representative who fights to make Congress focus on the issues that matter most to the people of her district . What matters to you, matters to her. She is an accessible and available representative who encourages and invites you to come to the table.

Alma Adams received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in art education from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro and took her Ph.D. in Art Education and Multicultural Education from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and has been a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated since 1978. She is a proud mother to two adult children (son and daughter), four grandchildren (two grandsons and two granddaughters) and one great granddaughter.

Alma has never forgotten where she came from – she has always strived to be a Congresswoman who opens doors of opportunity for all children, no matter the circumstances of their birth.