Commissioner Yumeka Brown was elected to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners on November 8, 2022. Commissioner Brown is a proud native of the Roseland community and the Southland of Chicago. A simple notion of getting more involved in the community and a push from her brother led her to run for office in December 2016. She was elected as Village Clerk in Matteson, Ill., in April 2017 and re-elected to a second term in April 2021. 

Commissioner Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and is a 2020 graduate of the Illinois Women in Leadership Training Academy. She also has more than 20 years of experience as a non-profit certified association executive. She is employed as the senior director, governance and operations for the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Commissioner Brown is also a small business owner of The Iron Pearl Banquet Facilities in Chicago Heights, Ill. 

During Commissioner Brown’s employment with the Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources with the American Bar Association, she developed a keen interest in environmental law, resources, and the Clean Water Act. 

In 2018, Commissioner Brown’s family was heavily impacted when her son contracted an environmental illness that nearly took his life. He has since fully recovered, but the idea that this could happen to someone else’s family has ignited a fire in her to protect her son and other children and families. This personal experience and her work in the non-profit sector have sparked her desire to give back to underserved and marginalized communities. 

Commissioner Brown understands firsthand how vital clean water and air are to our communities, and her goal is to fight for equitable and healthy communities across Cook County. She is committed to fighting for residents in every corner of Cook County because the issues vary from one end to the next, and representation is critical. 

Commissioner Brown resides in Matteson with her husband Corey and son Kahlil. 

Download Commissioner Brown's Bio