Tiawana Brown

Tiawana Brown, a proud Charlotte, NC native, has spent her entire life in District 3, and was elected in 2023 to represent her district as the first formerly incarcerated member of the Charlotte City Council. She was born in the Southside Homes Housing Projects, now known as Inlivian, where she resided with her hardworking single mother, Artie Brown, and her younger sister, Chunta, until she graduated from Myers Park High School. Tiawana is the mother of two adult daughters, with Antionette living in Atlanta and Tijema residing in Charlotte, NC. She also welcomed her first grandson, Byron B Sadler, Jr., into the world in 2024.

Brown worked professionally as a Corporate Consultant at several Fortune 500 companies, specializing in Telecommunications Management, Aviation at American Airlines, and Character Education Development, and worked as a NC Certified Peer Support Specialist, and Community Health Care Worker — providing supported employment and permanent supported housing to returning citizens and Charlotteans experiencing homelessness.

After her experience serving a federal sentence, she founded a nonprofit organization called Beauty after the Bars, which aims to prevent the incarceration of women and girls. She is a proud member and board member of The National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. She developed a mentoring program for school-age children, Believe Academic Success Belongs to You.