APAICS | Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

Representative Hansen Clarke, a native of the 13th Congressional District, spent most of his life on the east-side of Detroit near Mack and Baldwin.   His mother, a single parent after his father died when he was eight, raised him on her school crossing-guard salary.  
 
Recognizing that her son had a gift for the arts, Thelma secured a grant for Rep. Clarke to receive private lessons at the Detroit Institute of the Arts. This move would prove to be life changing. Based on his artistic talent, Rep. Clarke received a scholarship from Cornell University, where he majored in painting. Concerned that students who needed financial aid might not receive it, Rep. Clarke was elected to a student seat on Cornell’s Board of Trustees. He worked to ensure that Cornell provide financial aid to students whose families needed assistance. Shortly after graduation, Rep. Clarke enrolled at Georgetown Law School where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.

His love for arts never diminished and his passion to help others persevered. After passing the Michigan bar, Rep. Clarke returned to Detroit and dedicated his career to serving his neighborhood. He was elected three times to the Michigan House of Representatives. He was elected twice to the Michigan Senate.  In 2010, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives by defeating an incumbent.

Rep. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

[Official Congressional Bio]