MAYOR RITA ALI: 2021 – PRESENT (term expires May 2025)

ABOUT THE MAYOR

After serving two years as an At-Large City Council Member, Dr. Rita Ali was elected Mayor of Peoria, Illinois in April 2021, becoming the city’s first woman and first person of color to serve in that role.

Keeping her promise to serve as a full-time mayor, Dr. Ali retired early from her position as Vice President of Workforce and Diversity at Illinois Central College (ICC) where she earned statewide recognition for strong and effective equity-focused programming. ICC’s Workforce Equity Initiative, while under Dr. Ali’s leadership, targeted underserved individuals and provided them with education and training leading to a high-wage, high‑demand career in healthcare, manufacturing, information technology, or transportation.

Dr. Ali led efforts to establish ICC’s first International Center. She launched a comprehensive, aggressive strategy to effectively recruit and retain students of color in college. Her book, Role Models: Profiles of Successful African American Professions in Peoria, Illinois, featured 126 professionals representing 115 different occupations. It was designed to inspire Peoria’s youth and young adults.

Mayor Ali is involved in a plethora of local civic and community activities as the President of the Martin Luther King Holiday Committee of Peoria, a Board Member of Central Illinois Friends, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, Peoria Promise, and countless other roles. In addition, she has compiled a long list of awards such as the Whitney M. Young Award from the Boy Scouts of America and the Women’s History Award from the National Association for Women.

Mayor Ali earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services Management from University of Illinois – Springfield and a Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy from Bradley University, Walden University, and Capella University respectively.

Her daily prayer is, God make me an instrument of your peace and your love.

Contact Information

City Hall:
Office of the Mayor
419 Fulton St, Suite 207
Peoria, IL 61602
City Hall Phone: (309) 494-8519
rali@peoriagov.org

Previous State of the City Addresses

You are able to download and view prior “State of the City” addresses presented by former Mayor Jim Ardis.

State of the City 2021
State of the City 2020
State of the City 2019
State of the City 2018
State of the City 2017
State of the City–2016
Peoria Budget In Brief 2016 -Accompanying Piece from State of City 2016
State of the City – 2015
State of the City – 2014
State of the City – 2013
State of the City – 2012
State of the City – 2011
State of the City – 2010
State of the City – 2009
State of the City – 2008
State of the City – 2007
State of the City – 2006

Artwork on Display in the Mayor’s Suite

The Public Arts Advisory Commission received a request from Mayor Ali in the summer of 2021 to assist in selecting artwork by Peorians. The selected will be on loan by artists and/or local organizations for the Mayor’s suite. In December 2021, the Public Arts Advisory Commission voted on a policy for the display of artwork in suite 207 of City Hall. Selected artwork will be displayed on this page in a digital format.

The policy and application are below. Please note that applications will open in December 2022 for the next exhibit.

PAAC- Loaned Artwork for Mayor’s Suite Policy Adopted 12.7.21

Application- Loaned Artwork for Mayor’s Suite

Artists With Work Currently on Display in Suite 207 until January 2023

Click on the name of the artist to learn more and see larger images of their work.