SPOTLIGHT

Charles Harper, SR

Charles M Harper Sr is a multifaceted professional whose career spans education, military service, authorship, and Freemasonry

Educat ion and Professional Background

Harper holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a double major in history and philosophy and a minor in cultural anthropology from the University of Arizona He also earned an MBA from the same institution Currently, he is a second-year Ph D student in Business Management at National University His professional journey includes roles in state government as a Learning and Development Manager, HR Manager, and DEI Manager

Charles M Harper Sr, MBA, BA, CDP, left his role as the Learning and Development manager for the city of Overland Park, KS, before returning to teaching geography, US Government, and Financial literacy in Texas.b

Previously, Charles has successfully created diversity, equity, and inclusion practices for a national paratransit and non-emergency medical transportation organization. His methods have also been implemented by other organizations providing similar services

Charles has been a diversity and inclusion consultant for over 12 years, whose clients have included fraternal, educational, and governmental agencies, as well as some media and entertainment professionals. He is a certified US History Educator, a published author of three books, and he is a successful playwright and actor.

Personal Story & Motivation

What inspired you to run for office?

I was inspired by my journey. Growing up in poverty, serving in the military, battling untreated PTSD and depression, and rebuilding my life through education and public service After a severe back injury ended my construction career as a Local 150 Operating Engineer, I went back to college as an adult with kids, battling untreated depression to build a new future. I'm running because I believe working-class families, veterans, small business owners, and communities of color deserve real representation that puts people before politics and overcoming childhood trauma, all shaped my deep belief in equity, mental health support, and economic opportunity My life experience taught me that government can't just focus on survival. It must help people thrive.

Why did you choose to run as an independent rather than with a political party?

Both parties have grown disconnected from the everyday struggles of working Americans. Running as an independent allows me to prioritize solutions over party loyalty. When I saw politicians from both parties fail to meaningfully address mental health, small business survival, and veteran reintegration. Issues I lived. I knew I couldn't fully align with either side. I had to stand on my own.

How has your personal background shaped your political views?

Growing up biracial, though I identify as Black, in extreme poverty in a trailer park in Robbins, Illinois, serving in the Navy where I faced discharge with an untreated mental health issue, and overcoming childhood trauma, all shaped my deep belief in equity, mental health support, and economic opportunity. My life experience taught me that the government can't just focus on survival. It must help people thrive.

What life experiences have prepared you for public service?

My service in the military instilled duty and perseverance. Working over a decade as a Local 150 Operating Engineer taught me the realities of labor and the dignity of hard work Later, when I worked in Human Resources and Learning and Development, I learned how policies affect real people. My own mental health recovery, after a 2018 suicide attempt, deepened my understanding of resilience, humility, and the urgent need for trauma-informed leadership.

Platform & Policy

What are t he t op t hree issues you plan to prioritize if elected?

- Economic Empowerment: As a former union member and small business advocate, I know firsthand the barriers working families and entrepreneurs face.

- Mental Health Integration: After surviving my mental health crisis, I became Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc's inaugural Mental Health Champion, advocating nationally for better mental health support.

- Education and Workforce Development: Returning to college as an adult with a family, earning a Liberal Arts degree, an MBA, and now pursuing a PhD in Organizational Leadership, it showed me how critical an accessible education is for working-class adults.

How do you plan to address [local issue or major national concern?

In District 32, affordability is a major concern. When I had to rebuild my life after my injury, I experienced how hard it is to find affordable healthcare and education while raising kids I?ll champion federal grants for workforce housing, tie small business incentives to employee health benefits, and expand trade skill programs accessible to nontraditional students.

Screaming into the Light Kindle Edition

by Charles Harper (Author) Format:Kindle Edition

Shaun Willis carried within him horrific secrets throughout his young life Reckless sexual and physical acts, emotional disconnect, they became the cries for help from the pain he could not understand Hurt people, hurt people He would not be free from this pain until he went Screaming into the Light

A review by Bull Garlington | Founder of Creative Writer Pro | Award Winning Author

It's a tough book in a good way. It's meant to be tough. It's meant to be hard to read, emotionally. I think you're telling a story rarely heard. It's a violent, blunt story, and in many parts, and maybe not the parts one would expect, it can be very tough to read because Shaun is going through such a horrible moment. But we all know a guy like Shaun. Many of us were a guy like Shaun to some degree.