South Side Drive Magazine: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) hasbeen keeping our waterways clean since it was first established in 1889 Althoughit has a history of excellence and has won a couple of awards to prove it includingthe WEF Water Quality Improvement Award and the Schroepfer InnovativeFacility Design Medal, consumers don’t know much about this agency, and oftenget it confused with the Chicago Department of Water. There are ninecommissioners on the board of MWRD, and for Woman’s History Month, wechose to highlight the three African American women of MWRD, President, KariSteele: Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis and Commissioner Yumeka Brown.
President Steele, who is the daughter of retired Circuit Court Judge and former 6thWard Alderman, John Steele, was elected to her first term as a Commissioner ofMWRD in 2012. President Steele, who is a chemist and environmentalist was re-elected in 2018 for a second term and in January 2019, she became the firstAfrican American woman in the more than 130-year history of the MWRD to beelected by the Board of Commissioners to serve as President. She is currentlyserving her third term as President of the Board of Commissioners.
President Steele tells us that her motivation to go into politics came mostly fromher father. “As a young girl, my dad provided a depth of leadership knowledge anda wealth of expertise in being a public servant,” she tells us. At first reluctant andwith no plan in mind, at an early age, of becoming an elected official, she attendedcommunity meetings and volunteered for activities organized by her father.
“Ipassed out literature, stuffed envelopes, and sat in community meetings, listening toresidents’ concerns on various issues,” she says. During her volunteer work, shemet a person whom she refers to as one of her most diligent and knowledgeablementors, former Alderman Fredrenna Lyle, who asked young Kari Steele torevitalize the 6th Ward Young Democrats. “That’s when I got involved in aleadership role,” she tells us, “I became the chair of the group and hosted activitiesand asked my friends to be involved.” From there, she joined the Cook CountyYoung Democrats (CCYD), became the Chair of that group and was active withthe Young Democrats of Illinois. She says, “Politics quickly became myextracurricular activity.”
President Steele tells us that during her college years, she volunteered for MarcMorial, “Because I wanted to be part of the process that supported a Black man’srun for mayor,” she explained. “That was the first action where I stepped out on myown and it reminded me of the people who supported former Chicago MayorHarold Washington.” Politics became a part of President Steele’s life from an earlyage. “My life has always been close to the community and the elected officialsresponsible for resolving their constituents’ concerns,” she says, adding, “Today, Iam standing in the shadows of prominent politicians who have provided excellentguidance and who now hold me accountable for the actions and services I provideto the communities we serve.”
She earned a pre-med degree in chemistry from Xavier University in Louisiana,and worked as an intern at the MRWD, so choosing water was an easy decision. Inaddition, she held several positions, working in Houston for a water testingcompany and working in Chicago as a control lab water chemist for six years at theChicago Department of Water Management Jardin Purification Plant near NavyPier. She also held a position at L’Oreal as a formulating chemist for ethnic haircare products.
A turning point in her trajectory came when she was attending a communitymeeting. “A major issue came up concerning Southside residents who wereexperiencing major basem*nt water backups and I found myself stepping forwardand giving feedback about the role of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Districtand the City of Chicago Water Department to help homeowners.”
She says thatdoing that triggered her to take a leap of faith to further educate people on theessential work of the MWRD. At the urging of many of her peers and supporters,she ran for the MWRD Commissioner in 2012, and the rest is her story.
For Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis, the 2016 U.S. Presidential election wasnot only a historic moment in American history, but a wake-up call for her. Shenotes that former President Trump won by mobilizing coal country. “I couldn’t sitback on the sidelines of history as Trump determined to rescind vitalenvironmental protections,” she explained. “Being a Black Trans woman,witnessing the unrelenting legislative assault on LGBTQ+ Americans, I feel weneed more people like me contributing to policy and government. Our queer, trans,Black and brown voices and perspectives are essential to creating an equitablesystem.”
Growing up in Nebraska, Commissioner Brady-Davis says she has always beendeeply drawn to nature, the environment, and water. “Over the past six years, I haveserved as the Associate Regional Communication Director at Sierra Club, leadingcampaigns that champion renewable energy, hold corporate polluters accountable,and fight climate change,” she says and adds, “I strongly believe in protecting LakeMichigan, our primary source of drinking water, as water is our most preciousresource.”
Commissioner Yumeka Brown says at first, she never thought she would be inpolitics, however the environment she grew up in changed that. “Growing up inthe Roseland community really shaped my views on “no community left behind,”she says. “The drive to make a substantial difference in the lives of marginalized,disproportionately impacted communities propelled me into politics.” She addsthat, “Witnessing the challenges our residents face daily and having theopportunity to advocate for positive change, fueled my desire to serve.” ToCommissioner Brown, “It is about contributing to a legacy that empowers anduplifts every individual in every community.”
Commissioner Brown chose water to focus on in politics because, as she states,“Clean and safe water is a fundamental right, not a privilege. It intersects withpublic health, environmental justice, and economic fairness.” On a more personalbasis, she tells us, “My son’s battle with blastomycosis (an infection caused by afungus called Blastomyces) due to water issues fueled my commitment to ensuringequitable access to this vital resource for all families. This personal experienceshaped my dedication to public service and policy advocacy, driving me to fight forthe health and well-being of our community with urgency and determination.”
These three women are doing their part to protect our waterways, and they urge us,as consumers to do our part. “We at MWRD encourage Cook County residents toreduce their water use to necessity when there is a heavy rainfall so that the localsewers are not overwhelmed,” says President Steele, as she advises residents totake shorter showers, wait to run the dishwasher and delay using the washingmachine during heavy rainfalls.”
Clean water is such an essential necessity, it’s great to know that we have thesecompetent, well-qualified women, who really, really care about protecting ourwaterways.
