Earlean Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Earlean Collins
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official portait, circa 1981
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| Member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners from the 1st district |
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| In office December 1998 – December 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Darlena Williams-Burnett |
| Succeeded by | Richard Boykin |
| Illinois State Senator | |
| In office 1976–1998 |
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| Succeeded by | Kimberly Lightford |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 4, 1937 Rolling Fork, Mississippi |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Illinois |
| Profession | Attorney |
Earlean Collins (born September 4, 1937) is an American politician. She made history in 1976. That year, she became the first African-American woman elected to the Illinois Senate. She served there for many years, taking on important leadership roles.
Later, Collins became a member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. She represented the 1st district from 1998 to 2014. This area included parts of Chicago and nearby suburbs like Oak Park and Maywood.
Early Life and Education
Earlean Collins was born in Rolling Fork, Mississippi. She was one of fourteen children in her family. Later, she moved to Chicago, Illinois.
She was married to Otis G. Collins, who also served in the Illinois government. Earlean Collins is a graduate of the University of Illinois.
Public Service Career
Before becoming a commissioner, Earlean Collins held important positions. She was an Assistant Minority Leader in the Illinois Senate. She also worked as an Assistant Administrator for Children and Family Services.
Her election to the Illinois Senate in 1976 was a big step. She was the first African-American woman to achieve this. In 1994, she ran for Illinois Comptroller. This is a state official who manages money. She won the primary election but did not win the general election.
Serving Cook County
Earlean Collins was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1998. She represented the 1st district. Voters re-elected her three more times. Her terms lasted until 2014.
As a Cook County Commissioner, she led several committees. These included Business and Economic Development, Public Health, and Family Court. She also served on many other committees. These covered areas like construction, finance, and roads.
Collins focused on important issues for her community. She worked to improve conditions for people with mental illness. This included those in the Cook County Jail. She also wanted to increase affordable housing. Another goal was to train people to repair homes.
