We Are A Non-Partisan Government Research Organization

Polk Bros. Foundation recently announced a shift in in our grantmaking approach to focus on three goals for Chicago: Closing the Life Expectancy Gap to address the root causes of stark disparities in health equity and personal and community safety across different neighborhoods in Chicago; Building Community Wealth Across Generations to create pathways out of poverty and toward economic opportunity for residents of Chicago’s historically disinvested communities through more equitable housing, education, and income; and Fostering a Participatory, Multiracial Democracy to ensure that the varied voices of our city are heard and can influence the decisions that affect their lives.

I dedicate my time, skills, and energy to organizations that resonate with my core values and career aspirations. These values include promoting sustainable economic development in underserved areas, access to critical resources, such as education and housing, and engendering hope through direct or indirect acts of kindness. Not unexpectedly, my board service has shifted with career progression, and as community needs have evolved; yet active board engagement consistently strengthens my dedication to creating positive transformations and supporting projects and organizations that enhance the well-being of our communities.

The research of the Civic Federation is an incredible tool for politicians, civic leaders and all Chicago and Illinois residents to be informed on fiscal matters in a truly non-partisan way. With a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the City, County and State, I believe the Civic Federation can help Chicago and Illinois thrive over the long term.

I enjoy being part of the discussion when looking at solutions to issues that confront our local communities. As a lifelong Chicagoan, I have spent my career being engaged on both the public finance side of these discussions through my career in public finance, as well as the social policy side through my board service related to combating gun violence and promoting equality in education.

I wanted to join the Civic Federation because the organization has established a rare combination of credibility, influence and fairness that is rooted in what is best for Chicagoans and all residents of Illinois. As a public sector leader, my mission is to help drive positive outcomes for Illinoisans, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum. That’s why I value the non-partisan, data-driven approach we apply to our research and recommendations.

As a nonprofit leader committed to equity, access, and sustainable change, I was drawn to the Civic Federation because of its legacy of data-driven, objective research and its role as a trusted convener of civic and government leaders. The Federation’s work adds immense value to my own, as it gives me direct access to vital fiscal insights and policy analysis that inform how nonprofit organizations can navigate and respond to Chicago’s ever-evolving economic and political landscape. 
 

Throughout my long career and volunteer work, I have been a champion of many issues affecting women. I helped draft and lobby for the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, the Illinois Criminal Sexual Assault Act, child support laws, comprehensive sex education, family leave, equal pay, long-term care reform, and more.

The Civic Federation has a well-deserved reputation as both independent and non-partisan. I respect its work.

If you asked me 20 years ago if I would be working as a government affairs professional, I probably would have laughed. Today, I have a diverse resume: emergency management and preparedness, workforce development, marketing and communications, electoral campaign consulting, legislative affairs, government administration, public policy development, and even activism. The list goes on and on.

Systemic challenges in mental health are our biggest barrier, like unequal access to care depending on where you live or how much money you have to pay for out-of-pocket care. Insufficient funding and the shortage in mental health providers further compound these issues, highlighting the necessity for collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, policymakers, and communities to create a more supportive environment where everyone can access the care and resources they need and deserve. 

There are SO MANY good missions and initiatives in Chicago that our community doesn’t know about. EVERYONE needs to fly their flag higher and louder. I am helping non-profit missions with this initiative by connecting them to each other, to potential funding sources and other resources that can help move their endeavors forward.

Many families in our target community live in multi-generational households, providing a built-in support system for older adults but increasing pandemic-related risks. A Pew Research Center study indicates that 28% of Asians live with at least two adult generations under the same roof, twice the rate of whites. U.S. Asians also have a strong sense of filial respect. Studies have indicated that AAPI immigrant families identify family support, contextual support from friends and community, spiritual well-being, and balancing host and heritage cultures as strengths of their community.

I was drawn to the Civic Federation due to its commitment to informing the public about how our governments in Cook County, Chicago, and Illinois operate and how those operations affect everyday life and business. I believe it is our duty as business leaders to be informed, to provide wise counsel when needed, and to help others understand.

I see the Civic Federation as a leader in fiscal policy and fiscal responsibility. I also really appreciate the cross section of organizations and sectors represented by the Federation. 

When I first joined the Civic Federation in the summer of 1999, I was a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago’s master’s program in political science, and the Federation’s evidence-based approach to advocating for good government appealed to me. Once I started working day-to-day in the former Federation offices in the old DePaul University building on S. Wabash, I realized how unique the Federation is both locally and nationally.

As a Local Government Affairs Director since 2019, I’ve consistently relied on the Civic Federation’s budget analyses for both the City of Chicago and Cook County. Their data driven insights helped me navigate complex local government processes and understand how public dollars are generated and spent. Coming from a background in federal policy and national trends in Washington, DC, I needed an unbiased, local lens and the Civic Federation provided exactly that.

Having been very engaged in the business and civic community in Chicago and Illinois over the course of my professional career, being engaged with the Civic Federation was a natural complement to the work I do at Walgreens: ensuring that Walgreens, as a large employer and founded in Chicago, is involved in making certain that state and local government fiscal policies are sound and that taxpayer funds are being spent appropriately.

Electricity is the oxygen of a city’s economy. Without electricity, everything stops. The challenge of sustaining a service that is indispensable to virtually every person in a community has always appealed to me. It’s a huge responsibility – but it’s also a great privilege, one that brings out the best in me and my colleagues at ComEd.

Many people think actuarial work is about analyzing a situation and producing a single number as a result. The work is much more nuanced – it’s more about drawing out insights and helping people understand the full range of impacts and associated risks. The iterative nature of the work is important too – there are learnings to be had at almost every turn.

Since joining the Federation, I’ve been pleased to have observed a deep commitment from Federation staff, Executive Committee members, and the Board of Directors to excellence in research and thereby execution of the vision. It’s a defining characteristic of the Federation and what sets it apart from other civic groups in Chicago. 

I actually have been engaged with the Civic Federation for over 40 years, starting when I was a bank executive. In the early 2000s, when I became involved with Chicago Public Schools, I moved to the other side of the table. Over my approximately fifteen years as president of the Board of Education and previously as chief administrative officer of CPS, I got to know Laurence Msall, Civic Federation staff, and their work through their reporting on CPS. I was always impressed with the thoroughness and quality of their work.

I had the opportunity to become a Board member when I joined Bank of America and former Chicago president Tim Maloney asked me to take on the role for the Bank. With my background coming from the State of Illinois, I knew about the exceptional work of the Civic Federation and the key role its leaders represented in our discourse and was honored to do so.

The reason I continue to serve is the same reason I joined the organization in the first place: Because I believe we all have a civic duty to be involved in our community. The data-driven research conducted by the Civic Federation is important because it is independent and transparent, which means that people on both sides of the aisle, as well as the public and media, can use it as a tool to create solutions that will help our region thrive.