Constance Mitchell | Political Trailblazer
Written by luma on February 10, 2026
Constance “Connie” Mitchell was a transformative figure in Rochester’s political and civil rights landscape. In 1961, she became the first African American and the first woman elected to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors (now the Monroe County Legislature), representing the city’s Third Ward. Throughout her two terms, she focused on improving living conditions, expanding job opportunities, and advocating for educational advancement for underserved populations.
Mitchell’s activism extended well beyond her elected office. She was a co-founder of Action for a Better Community (ABC) and played a significant role in the Urban League of Rochester, where she helped establish the Black Scholars program. Her leadership was recognized nationally, as she collaborated with prominent figures like Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., famously marching alongside King in Selma in 1965. In 2017, her decades of service were honored with the Frederick Douglass Medal. Today, the Constance Mitchell Academy (School No. 16) stands as a testament to her enduring legacy of civic engagement and social justice in Rochester.
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