Patricia Avery

Patricia Avery, a native of Champaign County, was raised by her grandparents, David and Nannie Green. David Green was a Roofer by trade and Nannie was a Housekeeper. She is a graduate of Centennial High School and a continuing education student at Parkland College. It is to her grandmother that she gives the credit for teaching her life's most valuable lessons, i.e. hard work, respect for yourself, your elders and your neighbors. With these principles instilled in her mind and heart, Patricia's interest in philanthropic work grew as she became involved in many and varied organizations, i.e. the Y.W.C.A., study circles, Best Interest of Children, Court Advocate for Victims of Domestic Violence at a Woman's Fund.

Her work in County Government began in 1986 in the Office of the County Auditor and County Recorder. In 1996, she was the first African-American Woman ever appointed or elected to a Champaign County office. In 1998, she ran again for the Champaign County Board and won, being the first African-American to win in a district outside of District #5 in Champaign County. On December 4, 2000, she became the first woman, the first African-American and the first Democrat to chair the Champaign County Board. In 2018, she ran for election for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, but lost the Domestic Primary. She is a former president of the NAACP of Champaign, and has served as the Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Area Project since 2004.

Many honors have been bestowed on her through the years. Among them, are the Martin Luther King Outstanding Achievement Award, the Green Meadows Girl Scout Award for increasing opportunities for girls and women in sports and was nominated for the "Y.W.C.A's" Forgotten Achiever's Award.

She is the mother of one daughter, two sons and foster mother of two sons.