Chemberly Harris

Chemberly A. Harris served on the Town of Normal City Council two consecutive terms beginning 2017, becoming the first person of color to service on the Town Council. Chemberly was born and raised in Cleveland, OH and moved to Normal in 2012.

Harris earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio.

She is a member of the Bloomington-Normal NAACP, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, the League of Women Voters of McLean County and the Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Harris is a 2019 Edgar Fellow, a program focusing on developing government leadership in Illinois. She is employed at State Farm Insurance Companies as a technology analyst.

During her time on the City Council for the Town of Normal, Harris has served on several committees for the National League of Cities:
Federal Advocacy Committee on Community & Economic Development
University Communities Council
Youth, Education and Families Council
Women in Municipal Government
National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials serving as the Region 6 Regional Director
REAL (Racial Equity & Leadership)

In 2021, Harris was featured in a spotlight of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO). Locally, Harris led the Town of Normal’s organizing efforts for the Racial Equity Summit and Youth On A Mission. The Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP) recognized Chemberly as the 2024 Servant Leader of the Year. In 2025, the City of Bloomington recognized Chemberly for her work in the community as the Juneteenth Community Icon.

Harris is passionate about giving back to her community above and beyond her civic engagements and has served in the following roles (just to name a few):
Volunteer for the Multicultural Leadership Program (2020-2023)
Volunteer for the For A Better Tomorrow Advisory Council (current)
Former member of the board of directors for Mid-Central Community Action (2022-2023)
Former member of the Planned Parenthood Illinois Action Board (2020-2023)
Mission ambassador for the St. Jude chapter in Peoria, Ill.(2016-2022)
Advisory board member and volunteer for Home Sweet Home Ministries homeless shelter (2016-2018) – Night In A Car Advisory Council (2023-2024)
Volunteer and former member of the Children’s Discovery Museum Foundation Board (2015-2017)
Board Member and instructor of financial success and entrepreneurial skills through Junior Achievement (current)