Nicholas

 

Chief of Staff

As Chief of Staff, Nicholas leads the ward office team, provides administrative support for the Alderman's schedule and City Council priorities, and leads community engagement for the office's zoning, business development, and infrastructure programs. An urban planner by trade, Nicholas is most interested in municipal finance, the City Budget, manufacturing retention, and affordable housing. When he is not at the ward office, you might see him at Reckless Records Wicker Park, getting a cold brew coffee at Oromo, or biking around the neighborhood. 

Leah

Policy Director

Formerly the Community Development Director for the 1st Ward office, Leah has recently transitioned to a policy-oriented role. As Community Development Director, she handled any concerns related to business permitting/licensing, public safety, homelessness, and our senior community. Additionally, she acted as the office’s liaison with our sister agencies: Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), and the Chicago Park District. As Policy Director, she reviews aspects of the City’s Municipal Code for areas of improvement, writes ordinances/resolutions, and works with the Alderman on implementing policy initiatives. During her free time, you can find her at our Community Events, volunteering in response to our migrant crisis, or reading fantasy novels.

También hablo español :)

Maria

Community Engagement Specialist

As the Community Engagement Specialist, Maria is one of our office’s main event-planners and community engagement contacts. Maria has an academic background in public policy and is passionate about affordable housing and economic development. Maria's experience includes working at Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago as a housing counselor and most recently working with the Steans Family Foundation where she gained valuable insights regarding economic development in the North Lawndale neighborhood. In her free time, Maria enjoys taking weight-lifting classes, slowly jogging the river trail, absorbing as much trivia as possible, and supporting Tottenham Hotspur FC. 

También hablo español :)

Victoria

Associate Urban Planner

As Associate Planner, Victoria works on all things transportation, infrastructure, and forestry. She hopes to work towards equity in the 1st Ward through these avenues. She has an academic background in Urban Planning with a particular focus on social justice and sustainability. Previously, Victoria interned at Elevate where she worked with the Community Resources Team on researching topics such as utility burden, food deserts, and affordable housing in Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys quiet mornings reading with a cup of coffee and eating at any of the amazing restaurants the city has to offer.