Majority Leader, Illinois State Senate, 2019-present

Senator, Illinois State Senate, District 4, 1998-present

Former Member, Appropriations Subcommittee on Personnel and Procurement

Candidate, Illinois State Senate, District 4, 2020, 2024

Assistant Majority Leader, Illinois State Senate, 2009-2018

Vice Chair, Appropriations Subcommittee on Education

Chair, Assignments Committee

Vice Chair, Education Committee

Member, Executive Committee

Member, Higher Education Committee

Former Member, Committee of the Whole, Illinois State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Education Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Energy and Public Utilities Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Executive Appointments Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Redistricting Committee, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Special Committee on Oversight of Medicaid Managed Care, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Special Committee on Supplier Diversity, Illinois State Senate

Former Chair, Subcommittee on Charter Schools, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Civil Rights, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Education, Illinois State Senate

Former Chair, Subcommittee on Government Operations, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Redistricting I, Illinois State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois State Senate

Compliance Outreach Coordinator, Minority, Female, and Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprise Program, Illinois Department of Central Management Services, present

Former Executive Assistant, Community Services Division, Illinois Department of Corrections

Former Public Service Supervisor, Driver Services, Illinois Secretary of State

Former Administrative Assistant, Illinois Secretary of State

Graduate Public Service Intern, Department of Corrections, 1994-1996

Intern, Illinois House Democrats, 1994-1996

Founder, Uplift Our Future, 2004-present

Member, Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club, West Cook County, present

Member, Board of Directors, Proviso-Leydon Council for Community Action, Incorporated, present

Member, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, present

Member, Loretto Hospital, present

Former Member, National League of Cities

Former Chair, Recreation Youth and Senior Services Committee

Trustee, Village of Maywood, 1997-2003

Awards:

Friend of Education Award, Illinois Education Association-National Education Association, 2012
Women of Excellence, Chicago Defender, 2011
Education Champion Award, Alternative School Network
Certificate of Commendation for Support of Public Education, Chicago Teachers Union
Energy Legislative Partner Award, Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA)
Freeing the Human Spirit Award, Habilitative Systems, Incorporated
Champion of Senior Care Award, Health Care Council of Illinois
Legislative Leadership Award, Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
Friend of Illinois Principals Award, Illinois Principal Association
Good Government Civic Award, Proviso/Leydon, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Citizen of the Year, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
"Appreciation for Your Efforts on Behalf of the School Based Health Center", Proviso East High School
Woman of Distinction Award, Rainbow Push Coalition
Carre Visionary Award, The Safer Foundation
Alumni of the Year, Western Illinois University