Why I’m running for Congress:

Organizing has been in my blood since the very beginning.

Hi! My name is Kina Collins and I'm running for Congress in Illinois's 7th District. If you haven't heard of me yet, read on! If you have heard of me and want to help me beat an out-of-touch, entrenched Congressman who has been in office for 24 years, you can sign on here. I'm a native of the Austin community, born and raised on the west side of Chicago. I come from a large, working-class family that is union strong through and through: My dad is an active, dues-paying member of Teamsters and my mom is a lifelong member of the SEIU. As you can see, organizing has been in my blood since the very beginning. Illinois 7th is one of the most diverse districts in the state. But it's also one of the most unequal districts in the entire country. In Streeterville, home to the Magnificent Mile, your life expectancy is 90 years. In Englewood, you're only expected to live to age 60. Same city, same district, yet your life is going to be 30 years shorter than someone living just miles away. This district is home to gleaming skyscrapers and abandoned buildings. In neighborhoods like mine, we don't have fresh produce in our stores — but we do have lead in our drinking water. More than 20 percent of our population lives below the poverty line, including 30 percent of our kids. And 28% of all the gun violence in the entire state of Illinois happens here. In one of my earliest memories, I saw a child get shot and killed in front of my house. I knew the victim, and I knew the shooter, too. I started organizing for gun violence prevention at the local and national levels. And once I got started, I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. Because organizing is how we can get gun-free streets, affordable housing, incredible schools, clean air and water, and free healthcare. We can get all of that -- but only if we fight for it. And only if we elect leaders who will fight for it. Congressman Danny Davis -- who has been representing this district since I was five years old -- is not that leader. So, like I've always done -- like I've been born to do -- I'm organizing. I'm building a grassroots movement that will take on and beat an out-of-touch, entrenched incumbent. A movement that will elect someone who will organize both in the House chamber and on the front lines of this district. Who will make change instead of excuses. I'm Kina Collins and I'm running for Congress to be that leader. If you want to join our grassroots movement for change, you can sign up here; I'll follow up with more information on what you can do to help send me to Congress. Thank you! Kina Collins PAID FOR BY KINA COLLINS FOR CONGRESS. Does not equal endorsement. Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Progress America, please click here.