Established in 1996 in IL - Founded in the name of the late Cardiss Collins, a member of the Democratic Party from Illinois who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1997. Ms. Collins was the first African American woman to represent a Midwestern state in Congress and to hold the party leadership rank of Democratic Whip At-Large. She has been elected to numerous committees, including Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, and Congressional Black Caucus Task Force on Intercollegiate Athletics.