Maxine Moore Waters (née Carr), born August 15, 1938, in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 43rd congressional district since 1991. The fifth of thirteen children raised by a single mother, Velma Lee Carr Moore, she graduated from Vashon High School in 1956 and began working at age 13 in factories and segregated restaurants. In 1961, she moved to Los Angeles, working in garment factories and as a telephone operator before joining the Head Start program in 1966 as an assistant teacher and volunteer coordinator. She earned a B.A. in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles, in 1970. Waters served in the California State Assembly from 1977 to 1991, becoming the first woman elected minority whip and chair of the Democratic caucus, advocating for issues including child abuse prevention, divestment from South Africa, and affirmative action. Elected to Congress as a Democrat in 1990, she has represented districts covering southern Los Angeles, Inglewood, Gardena, and Torrance. A senior member and former Chair of the House Financial Services Committee during the 116th and 117th Congresses, Waters is known for her progressive stance on financial regulation, criticism of Wall Street, and advocacy for women, children, people of color, the poor, veterans, seniors, and small businesses. She has been active in the anti-apartheid and women's rights movements, supported hip-hop community initiatives, and established the Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center in Watts. Married to Sidney Williams, former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, Waters has two adult children, Edward and Karen, and two grandchildren. Recognized as one of the most powerful women in American politics, she is a fearless advocate for social and economic justice, drawing on her experiences with poverty and segregation. Her career has involved controversies, including ethics probes over earmarks and family business connections, as well as public disputes such as her targeting of financier Richard Perry.