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	(1949-12-10) December 10, 1949 (age 75) McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	Northwestern University (BA) Harvard University (MPA, MTS)

Jacqueline Y. Collins is an American politician. She was a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the Illinois Senate from 2003 to 2023. She represented the 16th district in Illinois.

Early Life and Education

Jacqui Collins was born in McComb, Mississippi. Her birthday is December 10, 1949. She grew up in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago.

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. In 2001, she earned a master's degree in public administration. This degree helps people learn how to manage public services. Two years later, she earned another master's degree. This one was in theological studies from Harvard’s Divinity School.

Her Career in Public Service

Jacqui Collins has worked on many important projects. She helped with a big effort to register voters. This helped elect Harold Washington as mayor. In 1984, she worked for Reverend Jesse Jackson. She was a press liaison, helping him talk to the news. She also worked as a press secretary for Congressman Gus Savage.

From 1987 to 1999, Collins volunteered at St. Sabina Catholic Church. She was the Minister of Communications. The church started a campaign against alcohol and tobacco advertising. These ads often targeted neighborhoods in the inner city. Because of this campaign, Chicago banned alcohol and tobacco billboards.

In 2001, Collins worked for Senator Hillary Clinton. She was a Legislative Fellow in Washington, D.C.. This means she helped with lawmaking. In May 2023, the Illinois Senate approved her. She became a member of the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

Serving in the Illinois Senate

Collins was elected to the Illinois Senate in 2002. As a senator, she worked on many important laws. She helped pass laws to protect children from certain crimes. She also worked on legislation to help more senior citizens. This law helped them save money on their homes.

She also helped create a special group. This group studied fairness in hiring for state projects. It looked at whether people faced unfair treatment.

Collins wrote and supported a law about Sudan. This law stopped Illinois from investing in companies. These companies were doing business in Sudan. This was the first law of its kind in the United States. Other states used it as a model for their own laws.

She was part of a group that worked to prevent unfair treatment. She also joined a commission. This group helped people who had been in prison. They worked to help them re-enter society.

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

• Appropriations - Government Infrastructure
• Appropriations - Judiciary Committee
• Criminal Law Committee (She was the Chairwoman of this committee)
• Financial Institutions Committee
• Redistricting - Chicago South Committee
• Transportation Committee

Collins often voted against laws about gambling. In 2012, she was a delegate. She attended the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Personal Life

Jacqui Collins is a Catholic. Her pastor, Fr Michael Pfleger, supported her. He endorsed her when she ran for Congress in 2022.