Watkins grew up in the Cabrini-Green public housing project.
And, how many mayoral candidates worked as a steelworker and became a union steward? Patricia Watkins did.
After growing up in poverty, Watkins earned bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees. She's a certified public accountant. She co-founded Ambassadors of Christ Church.
Watkins founded the Target Area Development Corporation, a community organization. And she helped found two education organizations: Grow Your Own Teachers and Advance Illinois. She also founded the Developing Justice Coalition to try to make the criminal justice system fairer.
