About me
Sonya Marie Harper has been a community activist on the South Side since she was 16 years old. Her passions include promoting community, economic development and civic engagement in an effort to create more peaceful and prosperous neighborhoods. Harper spent over a decade working in tv news for affiliates such as NBC, Fox and CBS. A champion for improving healthy food access Harper spearheaded legislation to create urban agriculture incentive zones and funding for socially disadvantaged farmers. Sonya co-founded the Wood Street Meet & Greet Community Garden, served as Director of Outreach at Growing Home, Inc. and helped to establish Grow Greater Englewood, a local non-profit which advances development projects, economic and educational opportunities related to food, urban agriculture and healthy living. Harper is the first person of color to chair an Agriculture & Conservation committee in the Illinois General Assembly and the youngest to chair the Joint Legislative Black Caucus.
