About Sharon
Sharon El-Amin is a proven public servant, executive leader, and longtime North Minneapolis resident with more than three decades of experience building solutions at the community, institutional, and systems level. Sharon moved to Minnesota in 1991 and has lived in North Minneapolis for over 35 years. She is a mother of three, a proud grandmother of four, and has been married to her husband for 34 years. Her leadership is grounded in faith, family, and a deep commitment to public service. She currently serves her second term as School Board Director for District 2 in North Minneapolis and previously served as chair of the board. In this role, she has overseen complex budgets, strengthened governance practices, and advanced equity-focused policies that center student success, accountability, and transparency. Her experience on a large public board has prepared her to lead at the county level, where collaboration and fiscal responsibility are essential.
In addition, Sharon serves as the Executive Director of McKinley Community, where she manages operations, partnerships, and programs focused on public safety, food access, environmental stewardship, and community healing. Under her leadership, McKinley Community supports four community gardens, including a Native Healing Forest, and provides fresh, healthy food to families across North Minneapolis. She brings executive management experience, budget oversight, and cross-sector partnership building to every role she holds. Sharon El-Amin brings the lived experience of North Minneapolis and the executive, policy, and governance experience needed to serve effectively as a Hennepin County Commissioner. Her leadership is steady, values-driven, and focused on delivering results for families, workers, and communities across District 2.
As the wife of the imam at Masjid An-Nur, Sharon has long coordinated community-wide efforts rooted in service, including feeding families and organizing large-scale social programs. Her work has consistently bridged faith, government, and community to meet real needs. Sharon El-Amin brings the lived experience of North Minneapolis and the executive, policy, and governance experience needed to serve effectively as a Hennepin County Commissioner. Her leadership is steady, values-driven, and focused on delivering results for families, workers, and communities across District 2.