Summer 2026

This year's Chicago Pride Parade was more than a celebration — it was a powerful reminder that progress is made through both visibility and action.

Before stepping off in the parade, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis joined advocates, community leaders, and elected officials as Governor JB Pritzker signed three landmark pro-LGBTQ+ bills into law, reaffirming Illinois' commitment to protecting transgender rights and healthcare privacy.

For Commissioner Brady-Davis, marching through North Halsted carries special meaning: "North Halsted is where I spent my formative years building community, establishing my professional foundation, and advocating for LGBTQ+ equity. Returning to lead the parade alongside fellow LGBTQ+ elected officials was a profound honor."

As one of the nation's only Black transgender women elected officials, Commissioner Brady-Davis remains committed to ensuring representation is matched by meaningful public policy — because everyone deserves to live with dignity, safety, and opportunity.

Commissioner Brady-Davis celebrated Independence Day by honoring both community and conservation.

She joined neighbors at the Hyde Park Fourth of July Parade before participating in the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's America250 Tree Planting Initiative at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant. The initiative marks the beginning of a yearlong effort to plant 250 oak trees across MWRD properties in celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

These trees will improve water quality, provide natural stormwater management, expand the tree canopy, and help build healthier, more resilient communities. The effort also builds on MWRD's Restore the Canopy program, which has distributed more than 100,000 free native tree saplings to residents, schools, and community organizations since 2016.

As heavy rainfall becomes more frequent across Cook County, Commissioner Brady-Davis launched a series of Rainstorm Ready Workshops to provide residents with practical tools for protecting their homes and neighborhoods from flooding.

Held in partnership with Aldermen Timmy Knudsen (43rd Ward), Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez (33rd Ward), and Matt Martin (47th Ward), the workshops connected residents directly with MWRD engineers and staff to better understand why flooding occurs and what homeowners can do to reduce its impact.

Participants learned about neighborhood flooding patterns, simple stormwater management practices, and the role green infrastructure plays in creating more resilient communities. Each workshop also provided an opportunity for residents to ask questions and leave better prepared for future storms.

Following historic rainfall across Cook County, the MWRD's Thornton Composite Reservoir reached a record 94% capacity — the highest level since becoming operational — temporarily storing more than 7 billion gallons of stormwater and combined sewer flows to help protect communities from more widespread flooding.

Throughout the severe weather event, Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis remained in close communication with MWRD leadership and local elected officials, including during the overnight hours, monitoring conditions, coordinating updates, and helping ensure residents received timely information as the situation evolved.

As severe storms continue, Commissioner Brady-Davis remains committed to advancing long-term investments in flood protection, regional collaboration, and climate resilience to better prepare Cook County for future storms.

Recent storms across Cook County serve as a powerful reminder that preparing for extreme weather requires both immediate action and long-term investment.

Commissioner Brady-Davis continues to champion innovative projects like the West LeMoyne Stormwater Detention Project, the first underground stormwater storage system of its kind on Chicago's West Side. Once completed, it will capture millions of gallons of stormwater during heavy rain events, helping reduce pressure on neighborhood sewers while decreasing the frequency and severity of street and basement flooding.

Projects like West LeMoyne work alongside MWRD's regional Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP), which captured billions of gallons of stormwater during this summer's storms. Together, these investments demonstrate how thoughtful infrastructure can help protect neighborhoods today while preparing Cook County for the challenges of tomorrow.

Applications are now open for municipalities and local government entities to partner with the MWRD on four stormwater management programs designed to mitigate community flooding throughout Cook County. Stormwater Partnership is accepting pre-applications December 15, 2026.

This summer, Commissioner Brady-Davis traveled to New York City to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Committee's Annual LGBTQ+ Gala, joining leaders from across the country for an evening celebrating progress while recommitting to the work ahead.

Her remarks challenged attendees to think beyond today's politics and focus on building communities where clean water, affordability, sustainability, and opportunity are accessible to everyone, regardless of their ZIP code. She also emphasized that protecting our most vulnerable communities must remain at the center of public policy.

Her keynote concluded with a standing ovation, reflecting a message rooted in hope, resilience, and the belief that the choices we make today will shape the communities future generations inherit.

The Office of Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis is now accepting applications for a Community Outreach & Public Relations Intern. This paid internship offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in public service while supporting communications, community engagement, research, media relations, and public events.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited college or university during the 2026–2027 academic year, reside within MWRD boundaries, and be pursuing a degree in communications, public relations, journalism, political science, public policy, law, marketing, sociology, liberal arts, or a related field.

Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis and her family are mourning the loss of her beloved father-in-law, Dr. Arnell "Grady" Brady, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, speech-language pathologist, and lifelong advocate for young people.

Throughout his life, Grady dedicated himself to helping others find their voice, empowering generations through education, compassion, and service. His unwavering kindness and commitment to his community touched countless lives.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Commissioner Brady-Davis, her husband Myles, and the entire Brady family as they celebrate his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.