'ZETA SPOTLIGHT'
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated consists of over 100,000 college educated women. Members of Zeta Phi Beta are writers, lawyers, doctors, teachers and always leaders.
This page is dedicated to the thousands of Zeta's who have impacted American Society. In the words of our esteemed Soror Zora Neal Hurston, "Those who ain't got it, can't show it. Those who got it, can't hide it"
Congresswoman Julia Carson
Ms. Carson, 59, has spent her lifetime in the 10th District observing and then serving the needs of the District's residents. Born to a teen-age mother, the young Julia Carson worked a variety of jobs including waitressing, newspaper-delivery and summer farm-labor in order to help her family make ends meet. While she worked, Ms. Carson was educated in the Indianapolis Public Schools system and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1955. Ms. Carson, who describes herself as "the natural mother of two children and surrogate mother of many," married upon graduation but continued employment outside the home. Ms. Carson has since raised her own two children and then two grandchildren as a single working mother. Ms. Carson is a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and for the past 30 years she and her family have lived in the 2500 block of North Park Avenue in Indianapolis.
Ms. Carson's political career began in 1965 when she was hired away from her job as a secretary for UAW Local #550 by the newly-elected Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr. Ms. Carson served Congressman Jacobs and the people of his district for eight years, first in Washington and then the Indianapolis office. In 1972, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the Indiana House of Representatives. Her work in the legislature earned her the first of her two designations as the Indianapolis Star's "Woman of the Year" in 1974. After two terms in the Indiana House, Ms. Carson was then elected to the Indiana Senate in 1976. During her tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Ms. Carson authored many pieces of legislation, including laws designed to encourage in-home health care and to ease the collection of child support. She also served on the Finance Committee of the Indiana Senate.
Ms. Carson gained valuable business experience while a member of Indiana's citizen-legislature. For 10 years, Ms. Carson worked as an executive for Cummins Engine. Later, Ms. Carson owned and operated her own small business in downtown Indianapolis.
While serving in the Indiana Senate, Ms. Carson became increasingly concerned about both the plight of the poor people in her district who were supposed to be served by the Center Township Trustee and also the burden being shouldered by the taxpayers. The Township, mandated to provide welfare to the needy of Central Indianapolis, had fallen heavily into debt and was widely accused of mismanagement of taxpayer funds as well as mistreatment of poor-relief applicants. In 1990, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the position of Center Township Trustee with the intention of fixing the same agency she went to in her youth for a ration of corn meal and lard for her family.
Ms. Carson began her tenure facing over $20 million of debt creating the imminent possibility that her predecessor's debt would depress the City's bond rating and limit the City's ability to attract new business. Through effective management techniques, including the elimination of fraud and waste and the requirement of "workfare" for able-bodied relief recipients, Ms. Carson dealt with the deficit while still assisting those truly in need. Center Township became debt-free and has actually lowered property taxes several times during Ms. Carson's tenure. As an admiring Marion County Auditor, John Von Arx (Republican), said to the Indianapolis Star "Julia Carson wrestled that monster to the ground."
Julia Carson has a wealth of personal experience as a manager, legislator, businessperson, and especially as a woman who has pulled herself and her family out of poverty. Ms. Carson now uses that experience to represent the 10th Congressional District in the United States Congress. On December 6, 1995, Ms. Carson accepted the endorsement of her friend and former boss, Andrew Jacobs, Jr., and announced her bid to serve the residents of the 10th District as their representative in Congress. On November 5, 1996, Ms. Carson won election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Indiana's 10th Congressional District. She currently serves on the Veterans Affairs as well as the Banking and Financial Services Committees.
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Congresswoman Julia Carson
Ms. Carson, 59, has spent her lifetime in the 10th District observing and then serving the needs of the District's residents. Born to a teen-age mother, the young Julia Carson worked a variety of jobs including waitressing, newspaper-delivery and summer farm-labor in order to help her family make ends meet. While she worked, Ms. Carson was educated in the Indianapolis Public Schools system and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1955. Ms. Carson, who describes herself as "the natural mother of two children and surrogate mother of many," married upon graduation but continued employment outside the home. Ms. Carson has since raised her own two children and then two grandchildren as a single working mother. Ms. Carson is a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and for the past 30 years she and her family have lived in the 2500 block of North Park Avenue in Indianapolis.
Ms. Carson's political career began in 1965 when she was hired away from her job as a secretary for UAW Local #550 by the newly-elected Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr. Ms. Carson served Congressman Jacobs and the people of his district for eight years, first in Washington and then the Indianapolis office. In 1972, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the Indiana House of Representatives. Her work in the legislature earned her the first of her two designations as the Indianapolis Star's "Woman of the Year" in 1974. After two terms in the Indiana House, Ms. Carson was then elected to the Indiana Senate in 1976. During her tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Ms. Carson authored many pieces of legislation, including laws designed to encourage in-home health care and to ease the collection of child support. She also served on the Finance Committee of the Indiana Senate.
Ms. Carson gained valuable business experience while a member of Indiana's citizen-legislature. For 10 years, Ms. Carson worked as an executive for Cummins Engine. Later, Ms. Carson owned and operated her own small business in downtown Indianapolis.
While serving in the Indiana Senate, Ms. Carson became increasingly concerned about both the plight of the poor people in her district who were supposed to be served by the Center Township Trustee and also the burden being shouldered by the taxpayers. The Township, mandated to provide welfare to the needy of Central Indianapolis, had fallen heavily into debt and was widely accused of mismanagement of taxpayer funds as well as mistreatment of poor-relief applicants. In 1990, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the position of Center Township Trustee with the intention of fixing the same agency she went to in her youth for a ration of corn meal and lard for her family.
Ms. Carson began her tenure facing over $20 million of debt creating the imminent possibility that her predecessor's debt would depress the City's bond rating and limit the City's ability to attract new business. Through effective management techniques, including the elimination of fraud and waste and the requirement of "workfare" for able-bodied relief recipients, Ms. Carson dealt with the deficit while still assisting those truly in need. Center Township became debt-free and has actually lowered property taxes several times during Ms. Carson's tenure. As an admiring Marion County Auditor, John Von Arx (Republican), said to the Indianapolis Star "Julia Carson wrestled that monster to the ground."
Julia Carson has a wealth of personal experience as a manager, legislator, businessperson, and especially as a woman who has pulled herself and her family out of poverty. Ms. Carson now uses that experience to represent the 10th Congressional District in the United States Congress. On December 6, 1995, Ms. Carson accepted the endorsement of her friend and former boss, Andrew Jacobs, Jr., and announced her bid to serve the residents of the 10th District as their representative in Congress. On November 5, 1996, Ms. Carson won election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Indiana's 10th Congressional District. She currently serves on the Veterans Affairs as well as the Banking and Financial Services Committees.
Top of the World
Ms. Carson, 59, has spent her lifetime in the 10th District observing and then serving the needs of the District's residents. Born to a teen-age mother, the young Julia Carson worked a variety of jobs including waitressing, newspaper-delivery and summer farm-labor in order to help her family make ends meet. While she worked, Ms. Carson was educated in the Indianapolis Public Schools system and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School in 1955. Ms. Carson, who describes herself as "the natural mother of two children and surrogate mother of many," married upon graduation but continued employment outside the home. Ms. Carson has since raised her own two children and then two grandchildren as a single working mother. Ms. Carson is a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church and for the past 30 years she and her family have lived in the 2500 block of North Park Avenue in Indianapolis.
Ms. Carson's political career began in 1965 when she was hired away from her job as a secretary for UAW Local #550 by the newly-elected Congressman Andrew Jacobs, Jr. Ms. Carson served Congressman Jacobs and the people of his district for eight years, first in Washington and then the Indianapolis office. In 1972, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the Indiana House of Representatives. Her work in the legislature earned her the first of her two designations as the Indianapolis Star's "Woman of the Year" in 1974. After two terms in the Indiana House, Ms. Carson was then elected to the Indiana Senate in 1976. During her tenure in the Indiana General Assembly, Ms. Carson authored many pieces of legislation, including laws designed to encourage in-home health care and to ease the collection of child support. She also served on the Finance Committee of the Indiana Senate.
Ms. Carson gained valuable business experience while a member of Indiana's citizen-legislature. For 10 years, Ms. Carson worked as an executive for Cummins Engine. Later, Ms. Carson owned and operated her own small business in downtown Indianapolis.
While serving in the Indiana Senate, Ms. Carson became increasingly concerned about both the plight of the poor people in her district who were supposed to be served by the Center Township Trustee and also the burden being shouldered by the taxpayers. The Township, mandated to provide welfare to the needy of Central Indianapolis, had fallen heavily into debt and was widely accused of mismanagement of taxpayer funds as well as mistreatment of poor-relief applicants. In 1990, Ms. Carson successfully ran for the position of Center Township Trustee with the intention of fixing the same agency she went to in her youth for a ration of corn meal and lard for her family.
Ms. Carson began her tenure facing over $20 million of debt creating the imminent possibility that her predecessor's debt would depress the City's bond rating and limit the City's ability to attract new business. Through effective management techniques, including the elimination of fraud and waste and the requirement of "workfare" for able-bodied relief recipients, Ms. Carson dealt with the deficit while still assisting those truly in need. Center Township became debt-free and has actually lowered property taxes several times during Ms. Carson's tenure. As an admiring Marion County Auditor, John Von Arx (Republican), said to the Indianapolis Star "Julia Carson wrestled that monster to the ground."
Julia Carson has a wealth of personal experience as a manager, legislator, businessperson, and especially as a woman who has pulled herself and her family out of poverty. Ms. Carson now uses that experience to represent the 10th Congressional District in the United States Congress. On December 6, 1995, Ms. Carson accepted the endorsement of her friend and former boss, Andrew Jacobs, Jr., and announced her bid to serve the residents of the 10th District as their representative in Congress. On November 5, 1996, Ms. Carson won election to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Indiana's 10th Congressional District. She currently serves on the Veterans Affairs as well as the Banking and Financial Services Committees.
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