Rep. Karen A. Yarbrough
(D-Maywood)
7th District

District Office:
2305 Roosevelt Rd.
Broadview, IL 60155
(708) 615-1747
(708) 615-1745 (fax)

E-mail: kyarbrough@ilga.gov

"I have worked to improve education, expand access to health care, and promote jobs throughout our community. As your representative, I will continue to be your voice in Springfield." -Karen Yarbrough

In the News

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Bill Sponsorships
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District Profile & Map

*Bill sponsorship and committee information courtesy of the Legislative Information System

Biography

Native of Washington, D.C., a licensed real estate broker and insurance agent; Rep. Yarbrough is a full time legislator. She has a B.A. in Business Management from Chicago State University and an M.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University. She has served on numerous boards, enhancing the quality of life for citizens and has received many prestigious awards highlighting her advocacy, community service and legislative work.

As she completes her fifth term as State Representative of the 7th District, which includes Chicago’s west-side and Proviso western suburbs, Rep. Yarbrough chairs the Appropriations-Public Safety Committee, which has the oversight of twenty-four state agencies. She also serves on the Insurance Committee (Vice-chair), Elementary & Secondary Education, Environmental Health, Computer Technology, Appropriations-Higher Education; Cities & Villages; Public Policy & Accountability and Railroad Industry Committee.  

In 2009 she helped pass the most significant package of ethics reform in many years, getting to the heart of the “pay to play” apparatus that allowed our former governor to sell Illinois to the highest bidder.  She also passed the first comprehensive public works program in ten years to create jobs and stimulate the economy through infrastructure improvements.

Karen’s legislative themes have been public health and public safety. She has been a stalwart fighter to increase assistance for those incarcerated, and funding for programs that provide a “Second Chance.”  She has been the leading spokesperson in Springfield for Cease-Fire, the innovative anti-violence program that relies on cooperation and community involvement rather than police force and violence.  In 2007, Karen successfully fought the tobacco lobby as the chief sponsor of “Smoke Free Illinois” and made Illinois the first Midwestern state to go “smoke-free.”  She’s taken on powerful real estate interests in her pursuit of “source of income” legislation that prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to those on subsidies.  Recently she sponsored “Quality of Life,” a bill using lottery money to fund groups that treat individuals with HIV-AIDS.

Karen and her husband, Henderson, the Mayor of the village of Maywood, have a blended family of six and share twelve grandchildren.  

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• The Unsung Heroine Award --- Cook County Board President John Stroger
• Illinois Reaches Out Volunteer Recognition Award---Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Uplift Human Service Award----Maywood United Way
• Civic Award -----Proviso Area NAACP
• 2001 Legislative Award ---- National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice
• Legislative Advocacy Award ----- Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
• Graduate of the Bow hay Institute for Legislator Leadership Development
• 2004 Better Housing Leadership Award ---- Lawyers Committee for Better Housing
• Legislative Service Award ----- The American Lung Association
• Best Legislative Voting Record --- IVI-- IPO
• Catch Your Breath Legacy Award ---- American Lung Association
• Member - Henry Toll Fellowship Alumni
• Legislative Lifesaver Award ---- American Heart Association
• Harvard University Kennedy School of Government --Graduate of Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program
• Democratic Legislator of the Year ---Illinois State Crime Commission
• Leadership and Commitment for Civil Rights and Freedom --- Progress Center for Independent Living
• The President's Award for Outstanding Contributions - NOBLE Women
• Community Service Award - Rocks Coordinating Committee (for Quality of Life legislation, Public Act 95-0674)

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