23 Facts About Rosalynn Bliss

Rosalynn Bliss was born on August 3,1975 and is an American politician, social worker, and former mayor of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The first woman to be elected mayor of Michigan's second-largest city, Bliss took office on January 1,2016 and served until the end of 2024.

Rosalynn Bliss grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Sault Ste.

Rosalynn Bliss earned her master's degree in social work and professionally started working in the field of domestic violence and child welfare.

Originally, Rosalynn Bliss wanted to be a meteorologist up until she took calculus class in college.

Rosalynn Bliss is an active member of her community and loves the outdoors.

Rosalynn Bliss enjoys music festivals as well as listening to local musicians.

Rosalynn Bliss formerly served as director of residential services at DA Blodgett-St John's, which provides emergency shelter and residential services for abused and neglected children.

Rosalynn Bliss served as adjunct professor of social work at Grand Valley State University for 10 years and currently serves as the Frederik Meijer Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Grand Valley's Frederik Meijer Honors College.

Rosalynn Bliss has served on numerous other boards and organizations, including the Kent County Land Bank Authority, Downtown Development Authority, and Experience Grand Rapids.

Rosalynn Bliss was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder to serve on the Child Lead Poisoning Elimination Board.

Rosalynn Bliss was first elected to the Grand Rapids City Commission in 2005.

Rosalynn Bliss served on the Uptown Corridor Improvement District and was a part of the Fulton Street Farmers Market Redevelopment, among other neighborhood and community initiatives.

Rosalynn Bliss was one of four candidates who entered the race to succeed Heartwell; the others were Robert Dean, John George, and Willard Lee.

Rosalynn Bliss received 23,717 votes compared to Schutte, who only received 4,476 votes.

Rosalynn Bliss became the 60th mayor of Grand Rapids on January 1,2016.

Rosalynn Bliss got fellow commissioners on board to create a fund that can be donated to local neighborhoods in order to fund projects.

Rosalynn Bliss strongly believes that these vacant properties contribute to the lack of success in a neighborhood.

Rosalynn Bliss created a general plan for the Grand Rapids movement towards sustainability.

Rosalynn Bliss has been a proponent of environmental sustainability with the city, twice receiving gold certification from the Michigan Green Communities Network in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge for their work in approving a bicycle action plan, zero cities project, having a strategic plan with sustainability as a core value and converting the city's yard waste site to a composting facility.

Rosalynn Bliss established the Housing Advisory Committee in 2016 and tasked it with coming up with recommendations to improve zoning ordinances and increase the city's affordable housing supply.

Rosalynn Bliss went on to express the fact that there were many services being offered throughout the city of Grand Rapids.

Rosalynn Bliss urged citizens to stay informed on the latest updates and initial steps towards combatting the pandemic.