Meet Yumeka

Yumeka Brown is a proud native of the Roseland community and the Southland of Chicago. She currently resides in the Village of Matteson with her husband Corey and son Kahlil.

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. Yumeka was elected as Matteson Village Clerk in April 2017. Yumeka is also serving as the President of the Rich Township Democratic Organization. Yumeka is also a small business owner of Redwood Luxe Bar and Grill in Olympia Fields, IL.

During Yumeka'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. 

However, in 2018, Yumeka'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 Yumeka to protect not only her son but other children and families.  Yumeka understands first-hand how important clean water and the air is to our communities, and her goal is to fight for equitable and healthy communities across Cook County!  Yumeka 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.

Yumeka is a 2020 graduate of the Illinois Women in Leadership training academy (iWIL). Yumeka holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with over 20 years of non-profit experience.  She is currently working as the Senior Director of Governance and Operations for a non-profit in the medical field. Growing up in a community affected by the War on Drugs, she witnessed families torn apart due to drug addictions and incarceration. This, along with her work in the nonprofit sector, gave her the inspiration and passion to “give back.” Her motto is, "you should want to serve where you lay your head."