Congressional Candidate for the Illinois 1st District, Charise Williams has collaborated with community organizations throughout Chicago and Cook County to increase economic development through employment, education, strengthening families/households, and community building. If elected as Congresswoman, she says, she is committed to representing the Illinois 1st District in Congress and ensuring that the right policies are in place to build and sustain its communities for now and future generations.
Charise’s last professional position was at the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) as the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff. Most recently, Charise advised on Covid-19 relief funding; worked with the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC) to disburse statewide violence prevention funding; and implemented and administered the Restore, Renew, and Reinvest Program (R3), which invests 25% of recreational cannabis sales into communities with the highest unemployment, poverty, gun violence, and incarceration rates.
Prior to that, Charisse worked as the Director of External Affairs for the Chicago Federation of Labor where she lobbied for local and state policies. Charise was the first woman and person of color as a founding board member of HIRE360. She’s been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of their 2021 Notable Black Leaders and Executives and as a Chicago Defender Women of Excellence honoree.
As part of our special Primary and Election coverage, The Chicago Defender spoke with Charise Williams about why she’s running for office and her vision for the 1st Congressional District.
The Illinois primary is June 28, 2022, with the general election happening on November 8, 2022. The Chicago Defender encourages all readers to register and vote in the Primary and General Elections. For more on Congressional Candidate Charise Williams, visit www.chariseforcongress.com.