Gwen McKenzie - 6th District
3513 Riverview Dr
Knoxville, TN  37914
Phone: 865-438-4551
[email protected]
Term ends: December 2025

Gwen McKenzie was elected to Knoxville City Council in 2017 becoming, not only the first African American woman to serve on City Council but also the first woman to represent the 6th District in the history of Knoxville.

In 2019 she became the first African American woman to serve as Vice Mayor. 

Gwen’s Father, the late Woodrow Z. Wilson, Jr. moved his young family to Knoxville from Columbia, S.C to become the first Executive Director of the Knoxville Area Urban League. Her Mother the late Dora C. Wilson was a retired Educator and community volunteer. Gwen grew up seeing her parent’s helping others, which is where her passion for giving back comes from. 

Gwen’s volunteer service expands 30 years with numerous organizations.
In 2018 she successfully introduced a controversial Gun Show Resolution that banned Gun Shows not only from her district, but all City owned facilities. Per McKenzie “it is extremely offensive to my community to be labeled a Gun Zone due to gun violence yet continue to promote selling guns in our backyard.”  McKenzie credits the community members who protested over the years (especially Mothers who lost children to gun violence) as the true champions for this resolution. 

In 2020 Vice Mayor McKenzie introduced the “African American Equity Restoration Resolution” to apologize for Urban Renewal but most importantly to implement actionable measures which included forming an African American Equity Restoration Task Force to identify barriers and solutions to improve economic and living conditions for African Americans in Knoxville. “Knoxville’s African American population being 17%, yet 42% are living at or below poverty level is completely unacceptable per McKenzie”. The Resolution also includes a 10 year $100 million goal. McKenzie believes the apology was necessary to begin the healing process and restoration will come from creating opportunities and access to break cycles of generational poverty leading to generation wealth building. This historic resolution passed unanimously by Knoxville’s City Council.
In May of 2020 McKenzie being aware of the health disparities in communities of color related to COVID 19 education, testing and vaccination, along with Cynthia Finch created the “Faith Leader’s initiative. The initiative is a weekly call with faith leaders to ensure they have accurate information on COVID 19 along with access to testing, vaccines, and resources in underserved communities.
  
Mrs. McKenzie worked for CVS Health for 19 years and held several leadership roles within the organization. Currently she is an independent consultant. 

Gwen currently serves on several Boards to include New Directions Healthcare, Tennova Healthcare, Knoxville Area Urban League, Knoxville Community Action Committee, Zoo Knoxville, and Lawson Family Foundation. Gwen is a member of the Knoxville Chapter NAACP, Leadership Knoxville Class of 2020, and Town Hall East Community Association.

Gwen attended South Carolina State College. She is a member of Greater Warner AME Zion Church. She has three children and 8 grandchildren. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

Gwen has been honored to receive numerous awards to include Ethel Beck Society Woman of the Year 2024; Girl Talk “Shero Award” 2024; YWCA Tribute to Woman Inaugural Social Justice Award; Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year Award; Prince Hall Masons Distinguished Service Award, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority Distinguished Service Award; AHERN, Inc, Distinguished African American Award
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Woman to Woman Award for Government and Politics; Home Federal Bank Hometown Hero Award; UNNIK Academy Community Recognition Award; CVS Health’s President National Paragon Award