About Cleopatra

Born and raised in Chicago, Cleopatra is a proud graduate from Kenwood Academy High School, and General Assembly Legislative Scholar who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Eastern Illinois University. It was at EIU she pledged her devotion to the most illustrious women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Cleopatra continued her studies as a Jane Addams Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She earned her Master of Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work in 2011. Over the course of her budding career, she led efforts in raising 6 million dollars in scholarships and guided over 1,000 low-income youth from various CPS high schools to enroll in postsecondary options.

In 2015, Cleopatra moved to the far south side of Chicago, 9th Ward, in search of a better life for her and her family. She discovered long-time, hard-working, Black residents ignored, food and transportation insecure. Instantly, she decided to serve as a Community Representative at George H. Corliss High School. In addition to that, she's led community organizing meetings, cleanups, and back to school drives. On a quest to fight for a better-quality life, she challenged a now 24-year-old incumbent Alderman, in 2019, then again in 2023 earning 32% of the vote.

For many years, Cleopatra worked as a Postsecondary Coach sending underserved youth to college or career pathways. One of the best gifts Chicago Public Schools gave Cleopatra was the opportunity to meet the love of her life. They married in October 2019. Living happily with their 2-year-old and newborn sons and 2 dogs. Cleopatra rose to become Your Favorite Millennial on WVON 1690AM Talk of Chicago. As radio personality, her show was “Rebuilding Black Chicago” dedicated to inspiring listeners to enact their entrepreneurial spirit and provide tools to sustain or establish small black owned and operated businesses. Her continued commitment to improve the quality of life on far south side of Chicago did not go unnoticed. She received notable highlights in 2020 by becoming a Black Woman to Watch in Illinois Politics and then again in 2022 Special Recognition Award from Metropolitian Family Services.

At the onset of the global pandemic, Cleopatra stepped up with faith that her community would overcome suffrage and founded Roses in Roseland 501(c) (3). Her nonprofit has quarterly “Give & Go” disbursement of essentials to residents such as: mask, hand sanitizer, body soap, diapers, feminine products, detergent, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Weekly, she distributes fresh produce to food pantries and senior homes to combat food insecurity. In addition to that, we hold our annual Historical Roseland Peace Parade to demand common sense gun legislation, investment in Roseland, and peace during the summer. Where Cleopatra calls home is destitute to more than 50,000 people and she is steadfast in eradicating decades of thorns by installing beds of roses.