community organizer
Community organizing is a process where people who live in proximity to each other or share some common problem come together into an organization that acts in their shared self-interest. Unlike those who promote more-consensual community buil ...
and activist, whose work has focused on issues of
gun control
Gun control, or firearms regulation, is the set of laws or policies that regulate the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, modification, or use of firearms and ammunition by civilians.
Most countries allow civilians to own firearms, bu ...
,
criminal justice reform
Criminal justice reform is the reform of criminal justice systems.
Stated reasons for criminal justice reform include reducing crime statistics, racial profiling, police brutality, overcriminalization, mass incarceration, under-reporting, and ...
, and
universal healthcare
Universal health care (also called universal health coverage, universal coverage, or universal care) is a health care system in which all residents of a particular country or region are assured right to health, access to health care. It is genera ...
2020
The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
and
2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
elections, winning 13.8% and 45.6% of the vote respectively.
Early life and education
Collins was born and raised in the
Austin
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
neighborhood on the
West Side
West Side or Westside may refer to:
Places Canada
* West Side, a neighbourhood of Windsor, Ontario
* West Side, a neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia
United Kingdom
* West Side, Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
* Westside, Birmingham ...
of
Chicago
Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...
. She was a student in the
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS), officially classified as City of Chicago School District #299 for funding and districting reasons, in Chicago, Illinois, is the List of the largest school districts in the United States by enrollment, fourth-large ...
system, during which time she served as a Summer of Service Learning Ambassador. She attended
Carthage College
Carthage College is a private college in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1847, it is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Carthage awards bachelor's degrees with majors in more than 40 subject areas and maste ...
and
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, commonly referred to as Louisiana State University (LSU), is an American Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Baton Rouge, Louis ...
, where she studied
international political economy
International political economy (IPE) is the study of how politics shapes the global economy and how the global economy shapes politics. A key focus in IPE is on the power of different actors such as nation states, international organizations and ...
and
sociology
Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...
respectively.
Activism and career
Community organizing and non-profit work
From 2015 to 2017, Collins worked as a regional organizer from Louisiana for
Generation Progress
Generation Progress is a youth-centered research and advocacy group that promotes progressive political and social policy through support for young people, students, and young activists in the United States. Generation Progress is the youth engage ...
, a youth-centered research and advocacy group formed under the
Center for American Progress
The Center for American Progress (CAP) is a public policy think tank, research and advocacy organization which presents a Modern liberalism in the United States, liberal viewpoint on Economic policy, economic and social issues. CAP is headquarter ...
. During 2016–17, she was selected as a member of Generation Progress' #Fight4AFuture National Leadership Council, which developed campaigns on gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform.
In 2017, she founded an organization called the Chicago Neighborhood Alliance, with the goal of empowering activists to end gun violence in Chicago through civic engagement. From 2018 to 2019, she worked as a national organizer for
Physicians for a National Health Program
Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) is an advocacy organization of more than 20,000 American physicians, Medical education in the United States, medical students, and health professionals that supports a universal, comprehensive sing ...
. As of 2020, she serves as the Executive Director of the Gun Violence Prevention Education Center and Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, a statewide organization focused on gun violence prevention.
Electoral politics and government
Collins was a staff member in
J. B. Pritzker
Jay Robert Pritzker (born January 19, 1965) is an American businessman and politician serving since 2019 as the 43rd governor of Illinois. A member of the wealthy Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain, Pritzker has started several vent ...
's campaign for governor of Illinois in 2018, but resigned after recordings of conversations between Pritzker and
Rod Blagojevich
Rod R. Blagojevich ( ; born December 10, 1956), often referred to by his nickname "Blago", is an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Blagojevich previously worked ...
in 2009 where Pritzker made racially insensitive remarks were publicly released. Later in that election cycle, she served as the political director for Sameena Mustafa's unsuccessful campaign for Illinois' 5th congressional district.
In 2018, Collins co-authored the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act, which created a council to advise the governor and state lawmakers on issues concerning women and girls. She served as the Council's inaugural chairwoman. During her tenure as the Council's chair, Collins was also selected by
Chicago City Clerk
The city clerk of Chicago is in charge of record-keeping for Chicago, including for its elections, permits, licenses, and laws. When the Chicago City Council is in session, the city clerk also serves as council secretary. The clerk is a citywide ...
Anna Valencia to serve on the Status of Women and Girls in Chicago working group.
During the
2019 Chicago aldermanic election
The 2019 Chicago aldermanic election took place in two rounds on February 26 and April 2, 2019, to elect 50 aldermen to the Chicago City Council. Each alderman represents one of Chicago's 50 wards. The elections are non-partisan and use a two- ...
, Collins helped form a coalition of organizations called Brand New Council, which aimed to elect progressive candidates of color to
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the Law and government of Chicago, government of the Chicago, City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 Wards of the United States, wards to serve four-year t ...
. The coalition endorsed 16 candidates and worked to register new voters.
Recognition
She received the Vernita Grey Community Activist Award from the Chicago chapter of the
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women (NOW) is an American feminist organization. Founded in 1966, it is legally a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S. states and in Washington, D.C. It ...
in 2018.
Candidacy for Congress
2020 election
Collins announced her candidacy for U.S. Representative from
Illinois's 7th congressional district
The 7th congressional district of Illinois covers parts of Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, as of the 2023 redistricting that followed the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. All or parts of Broadview, Illinois, Broadview, Bellwood, Illino ...
on May 13, 2019. She challenged incumbent congressman Danny K. Davis in the Democratic Party primary election for the seat in March 2020, in addition to two other challengers, Anthony Clark and Kristine Schanbacher. Collins highlighted single-payer healthcare, research and resources for gun violence prevention, and criminal justice reform as her three top priorities if elected. She received endorsements from several local officials, including
Chicago alderman
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 alderpersons elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms. The council is called into session regularly, usually monthly ...
Jeanette Taylor
Jeanette Beatrice Taylor (born May 16, 1975) is an American politician and community organizer. Taylor is the alderman of Chicago, Illinois' 20th ward, taking office as a member of the Chicago City Council in May 2019. She won an open race to suc ...
, Illinois House Representative Anna Moeller, two Oak Park village trustees, two River Forest village trustees, and two local school board members. She was also endorsed by several organizations including the
Center for Popular Democracy
The Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) is an American advocacy group that promotes progressive politics. CPD is a federation of groups that includes some of the old chapters of ACORN. The group's stated goal is to "unapologetically demand transf ...
, Women's March Illinois, and Northside Democracy for America. In the March 17, 2020, Democratic primary election, she placed second with 13.8% of the vote.
2022 election
Collins announced her candidacy for Illinois's 7th congressional district in
2022
The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
on June 1, 2021. Along with the launch of her campaign, she announced an endorsement from
Justice Democrats
Justice Democrats (JD) is an American progressive political action committee and caucus founded on January 23, 2017, by two leaders of Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign, Saikat Chakrabarti and Zack Exley, as well as political com ...
. Collins outraised incumbent Representative Danny Davis in both of the first two quarters of her campaign. In the June 28, 2022, Democratic primary election, she placed second with 45% of the vote.
2024 election
Collins again announced her candidacy for Illinois's 7th congressional district in
2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
on July 10, 2023. She concurrently announced endorsements from several local elected officials, including Chicago City Council members
Angela Clay
Angela Clay is an American politician and activist. She is the alderwoman for the 46th ward in the Chicago City Council, having won the 2023 election for the office. The 46th ward includes portions of the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods.
Ear ...
Daniel La Spata
Daniel Francis La Spata (born February 26, 1981) is a Chicago politician. He has served as alderman from Chicago's 1st ward since May 2019. He won election to that office after defeating incumbent Proco Joe Moreno in the 2019 Chicago aldermanic ...
, and
Byron Sigcho-Lopez
Byron Sigcho-Lopez (born July 7, 1983) is a Chicago politician and community activist. He is the alderman of Chicago's 25th ward, having taken office as a member of the Chicago City Council in May 2019. He won an open race to succeed outgoing ...
.
On March 8, 2024,
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American Rock music, rock band formed in New York City in 1998. The band is composed of lead singer and primary songwriter Julian Casablancas, guitarists Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond, Jr., Albert Hammond Jr., bassist Nikola ...
performed a benefit concert for Collins. This is the second time they have performed for her campaign, the first being in 2022.
She placed third in the Denocratic primary election behind Davis and
city treasurer The municipal treasurer is a position of responsibility for a municipality according to the locally prevailing laws.
The treasurer of a public agency is electedMelissa Conyears-Ervin respectively.