ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Anu Uddavolu
(You can call me Anu)
WHERE I COME FROM
My father, grandfather, and uncles attended A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama. My grandfather majored in economics, but don’t let the numbers game fool you—he was a passionate farmer, and known for it. He rented land to grow vegetables, and sold them locally. His wife was a blue-collar worker, through and through. Their work ethic informs who I am today, and like so many of you, I am proud of that heritage.
My story starts not in the South, but the Midwest—it is here that I grew up and pursued my education. I have always had strong ties to the communities that I called home, because I know the value of these connections.
I found myself in New York City as a litigator. Immediately, I saw a need for pro-bono legal services, and quickly took on cases that changed lives. While doing this work, my own life changed. I met Ravi Uddavolu—he was working for the Peoria-based company that transforms organizations worldwide to improve performance, profitability, and global competitiveness.
That was exciting, but what I loved about him the most was our shared love of community service and commitment to improving the lives of others. When I left New York City for Peoria, I did so because I knew this is where I wanted to raise a family. I wanted my future child to grow up with the same Midwestern values that informed my own life and career. Soon, I gave birth to our son Maurya. He was named after Chandragupta Maurya, a man who is credited with uniting what we now know as India. This is because I believe in the value of a people united — and as a city council member, I will work to unite our city to come together to create what is truly a "Greater Peoria." Our own Maurya has taken on this role as one of my top volunteers in our campaign for Peoria City Council.
A THRIVING CAREER
Serving my own community has been my passion. Upon moving to Peoria in 2013, I immediately got involved in the community as a pro bono attorney for Prairie State Legal Services, advising small business owners and helping clients resolve family disputes. I now serve as corporate supply chain contract administrator at OSF Healthcare, where I manage, negotiate, and administer contracts for products, services, and capital equipment at facilities owned or affiliated with OSF HealthCare. If you are interested in the specifics, this means that I monitor contract compliance and performance metrics, advising the leadership team on achieving best-in-class quality, cost and delivery through competitive benchmarking and market research, and analytics.
Basically, I am a details person, something we need at City Hall.
I chose a career path that gave me the time to serve our community. In 2023, I ran for Peoria City Council At-Large. Although I narrowly lost that race, my commitment to Peoria remained strong, and new opportunities to serve followed.
In 2024, I was honored to be one of 12 women selected statewide for the Illinois Women in Leadership (IWIL) Training Academy. Through eight months of intensive training, I learned from community leaders, policy experts, and elected officials about campaigning, communication, fundraising, and effective government. Visits to Springfield and Washington, D.C., deepened my understanding of how to turn community priorities into action.
I was also appointed Co-Chair of the Child & Youth Development Subcommittee of Peoria’s Joint Commission on Racial Equity and Justice. In that role, I researched and presented findings on academic disparities among White, Black, and Hispanic students in Peoria Public Schools District 150, helping bring attention to the challenges facing our children.
I was appointed to serve as a Commissioner on the City of Peoria Fair Employment Commission, continuing my commitment to fairness and opportunity.
These experiences have strengthened my preparation for public service and my resolve to help build a Peoria where every child, family, and neighborhood has the opportunity to thrive.
In 2024, I decided to purchase and operate CASTLES PATIO INN (the oldest neighborhood bar) in the City of Peoria. Castles Patio Inn has been part of City of Peoria since 1920. As the owner of small business, I know what it takes to keep a local business going. I’ve worked to preserve a place that matters to our community, welcome everyone who walks through the door, and create jobs.
This experience has shaped how I would serve City of Peoria: - listen to people, support our small businesses, and make sure our neighborhoods have the opportunity tothrive.
AT A GLANCE
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
AND RECOGNITIONS
RECOGNITIONS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- SEWA (Service Award)
- Forty Leaders Under 40, Peoria Magazines
- Law School Graduate from Michigan
- Outstanding New Leader, Women in Leadership of Central IL
- Dennis A. Steele Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Peoria Joint Racial Justice and Equity Commissioner:
Child and Youth Development Committee Chairman
- Community Foundation of Central Illinois Women’s Advisory Board Member: Empowering Women and Girls
- AICCP (Asian Indian Community Collaboration of Peoria):
Alternative Career Mentoring, Youth Leadership,
& Philanthropy
- American Heart Association:
Peoria Go Red for Women Executive Team Member,
Women’s Heart Health Awareness & Prevention