Senator Lakesia Collins

Lakesia Collins rose from certified nursing assistant and union steward to become one of the most influential labor voices in Springfield. Born and raised in Chicago’s West Side, Collins spent nearly a decade caring for nursing‑home residents, witnessing firsthand the inequities in elder care. As an organizer with SEIU Healthcare Illinois she led the “Safe Staffing = Quality Care” campaign and represented frontline workers at the bargaining table. Collins gained national attention as a spokesperson for the Fight for $15 movement, advocating for a living wage and union rights for fast‑food and care‑sector workers. After winning a 2020 special election to the Illinois House for the 9th District, she co‑founded the Illinois House Progressive Caucus and successfully passed legislation to cap out‑of‑pocket insulin costs, expand nursing‑home oversight and provide free menstrual products in schools. In 2022 she was elected to the Illinois Senate (5th District), becoming the first Black woman to represent the seat. Collins chairs the Senate Human Rights Committee and serves on the Labor, Appropriations and Public Safety committees. She continues to champion affordable housing, trauma‑informed mental‑health services and equitable education funding while raising her three children in Chicago.