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Art Haywood was raised by his mother, a dedicated public-school teacher who instilled in him the values of hard work and the importance of obtaining a quality education. His journey began early when he started working as a newspaper delivery boy at the age of nine.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, Art pursued further education as a Marshall Scholar at the London School of Economics, where he completed his master’s degree. He then earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1985.

Art’s professional career began with Community Legal Services (CLS), where he helped save families from home foreclosure. He went on to work at Regional Housing Legal Services and then at Esperanza, before establishing his own private practice, assisting nonprofit organizations in revitalizing neighborhoods.

In 2009, inspired by President Barack Obama, Art ran for and won the position of township commissioner in Cheltenham. During his tenure, he made a lasting impact, divesting pension funds from gun manufacturers, launching the Sustainable Cheltenham initiative, and enacting a non-discrimination ordinance for sexual orientation and gender identity. After serving as President of the Board of Commissioners, Art was elected State Senator for the 4th District in 2014.

As a State Senator, Art has been a passionate advocate for affordable housing, leading the expansion of the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund to $100 million annually. He also championed guardianship reform for vulnerable populations and the relocation of domestic violence survivors living in public housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he secured $193 million in federal CARES Act funding to combat evictions, foreclosures, and homelessness. Additionally, Art served on Governor Tom Wolf’s Vaccine Taskforce and successfully secured $13 million for mobile, school, and community-based clinics.

Art is known for his influential work on various reports, including the Poverty Listening Tour and Report (2019), the State of Black Pennsylvania Report (2023), and the ENOUGH Report (2024) on ending campus racism.

Throughout his career, Art has received numerous accolades, including the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Award of Excellence, the Prize for Civility from Allegheny College, Legislator of the Year Award from the Life Sciences Caucus, and the Economic Justice Award from the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, among many others.

In Enero 2021, Art published Campaigns for COMPASSION: A Story of Community Change, which reflects his dedication to dignity for all and creating lasting social change.

Art has been married to Julie for 35 years, and together they have three adult children: Arthur, Olivia, and Alexandra.

Updated Enero 2025