PRECIOUS BRADY-DAVIS
progressive leader in social justice, environmental advocacy, and strategic communications.
Precious Brady-Davis, a Nebraska native, is a trailblazer in public service and advocacy. In November 2024, she was elected to an incomplete two-year term as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, after being appointed to the role by Governor JB Pritzker in July 2023. She made history as the first openly Black transgender woman elected to public office in Cook County.
She also serves as Chief Strategy Officer at the Center on Halsted, where she began her career over a decade ago as Youth Outreach Coordinator, launching a $1.6 million CDC grant for HIV prevention and LGBTQ leadership development. Her return to the Center underscores her deep commitment to advancing equity and fostering inclusive communities.
Previously, Precious held leadership roles at Columbia College Chicago as Assistant Director of Diversity Recruitment Initiatives, where she implemented campus-wide diversity policies, and at the Sierra Club, where she spent six years leading communications strategies for climate justice campaigns. Her efforts have driven renewable energy adoption, protected Oklahoma’s water supply, and held corporate and government leaders accountable, including former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
A published author and keynote speaker, Precious inspires others through her memoir, I Have Always Been Me, and her unyielding dedication to justice, sustainability, and leadership.
professional experience
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), Chicago, IL
Commissioner (2023 – Present)
• Elected to serve a two-year unexpired term, overseeing the district’s operations, environmental stewardship, and flood management.
• Spearheading initiatives to enhance sustainable water management and community engagement.
• Actively collaborating with municipalities and environmental organizations to promote green infrastructure projects.
Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL
Chief Strategy Officer (2024 – Present)
• Spearheading initiatives to enhance sustainable water management and community engagement.
Provide leadership and support for ongoing creation, development, refinement and execution of strategic initiatives
Expanding ongoing programming, activation, community engagement, outreach and involvement efforts at the Center on Cottage Grove
Support and enhance overall organizational effectiveness, impact and performance
Support expansion of Center on Halsted, Center on Addison, and Center on Cottage Grove programs and services
Institutionalize a data informed approach for program and service delivery to include survey and data gathering, data analysis, creation of metrics, timelines and goals
Sierra Club, Chicago, IL
Associate Communications Director (2020 – 2024)
• Directed national media strategies for the Beyond Coal Campaign in the Eastern Region, promoting environmental priorities in diverse media platforms.
• Managed a team of six press secretaries and developed crisis communications strategies.
• Elevated marginalized community narratives in environmental justice campaigns.
Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL
Assistant Director of Diversity Recruitment Initiatives (2014 – 2017)
• Led equity-focused policy reforms, including gender-inclusive admissions applications.
• Increased Hispanic student applications by 77% through targeted recruitment initiatives.
• Trained staff and faculty on best practices for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Center on Halsted, Chicago, IL
Youth Outreach Coordinator (2011 – 2014)
• Managed youth programming for LGBTQ+ homeless populations using harm reduction approaches.
• Secured a $1.6M CDC grant, reaching over 6,000 African American and Latino youth.
• Represented the organization on national panels and conferences on transgender and HIV prevention issues.
highlighted achievements
Published Author:
I Have Always Been Me (2021), a memoir published by Topple Books.
Public Speaker: Delivered keynote addresses and presentations for major organizations and institutions, including:
United Airlines - EQUAL LGBTQ Business Group (2023)
Women at Google - Chicago Summit (2023)
Fearlessly You Conference - Blue Cross Blue Shield (2023)
NEA Aspiring Educators Conference (2022)
Black History Month - Expedia (2022)
Teach for America Prism Conference (2020)
Pride@ Kellogg - Northwestern University (2020)
Obama Foundation Summit - Panelist on Social Media & Activism (2017)
National Conference for Creating Change - Co-Chair, National LGBTQ Task Force (2016)
Leadership Roles:
Served on the Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion Transition Subcommittee for Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (2023).
Appointed to the Joe Biden Foundation LGBTQ Advisory Council (2018).
Community Advocacy:
Spearheaded Minneapolis’s commitment to 100% renewable energy.
Protected Oklahoma’s water supply from corporate pollution.
Media and Recognition:
Featured in The New York Times’ “Transgender Today” (2015).
Presented at the MTV Video Music Awards (2015).
Honored by The Trans 100 as both a host and award recipient (2015).
