Jacqueline Y. Collins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jacqui Collins
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 16th district
In office January 8, 2003 – January 11, 2023
Preceded by	Robert Molaro
Succeeded by	Willie Preston
Personal details
Born	December 10, 1949 (age 74) McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Northwestern University (BA) Harvard University (MPA, MTS)

Jacqueline Y. Collins, often called Jacqui, was born on December 10, 1949, in McComb, Mississippi. She grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Jacqui Collins is an American politician who was a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the Illinois Senate for the 16th district from 2003 until 2023.

During her time as a senator, she worked on important laws. For example, she helped create rules to protect children. She also supported laws that helped more senior citizens save money on their homes. Another important project was creating a group to study fairness in state construction jobs. This group looked at whether people faced unfair treatment because of their race or gender.

Jacqui Collins' Early Life and School

Jacqui Collins was born in McComb, Mississippi. She studied journalism at Northwestern University. After college, she worked for a newspaper called Citizen Community. She also worked for CBS-TV news.

Later, Collins went back to school at Harvard University. She earned two master's degrees there. In 2001, she received a master's degree in public administration. This degree helps people learn how to manage government and public services. Two years later, in 2003, she earned another master's degree in theological studies.

Jacqui Collins' Career and Public Service

Jacqui Collins has had a long career helping her community. She worked on a big effort to get people to register to vote. This helped elect Harold Washington as mayor of Chicago. In 1984, she also worked for Reverend Jesse Jackson and Congressman Gus Savage.

From 1987 to 1999, Collins volunteered at St. Sabina Catholic Church. She helped the church with its communications. During this time, the church started a campaign against alcohol and tobacco ads. These ads often targeted neighborhoods in the inner city. Because of this campaign, the Chicago City Council passed a law. This law banned alcohol and tobacco billboards in the city.

In 2001, Collins worked in Washington, D.C. She was a Legislative Fellow for Senator Hillary Clinton. This means she helped Senator Clinton with her work on new laws.

In May 2023, the Illinois Senate approved Collins for a new role. She became a member of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. This group works to protect people's civil rights.

Jacqui Collins in the Illinois Senate

Jacqui Collins was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2002. As a senator, she wrote and supported many important laws.

One of her notable achievements was a law that stopped Illinois from investing in companies doing business in Sudan. This was the first law of its kind in the United States. Other states have used it as an example for their own laws.

Collins also worked on important groups. She was part of the Governor’s Racial Profiling Task Force. This group looked at unfair police stops based on race. She also joined the Governor’s Statewide Community Safety Re-entry commission. This group helps people who have been in prison get back into society. Their goal is to help these individuals avoid returning to prison.

As of July 2022, Collins was part of several important committees in the Illinois Senate:

• Appropriations - Government Infrastructure (This committee handles money for state projects.)
• Appropriations - Judiciary Committee (This committee handles money for courts and legal matters.)
• (Chairwoman of) Criminal Law Committee (She led this committee, which deals with laws about crimes.)
• Financial Institutions Committee (This committee works on laws about banks and money.)
• Redistricting - Chicago South Committee (This committee helps draw election district maps.)
• Transportation Committee (This committee works on laws about roads, trains, and other transport.)

Collins often voted against laws that would allow more gambling.

She also served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. This is a big meeting where the Democratic Party chooses its candidate for president.

Jacqui Collins' Personal Life

Jacqui Collins is Catholic. Her pastor, Father Michael Pfleger, supported her when she ran for Congress in 2022.