New Momentum in Illinois

This week I began my new role as Executive Director of Common Cause Illinois. I want to thank the leadership of the Illinois Board of Directors for their continued support and Rey Lopez-Calderon as he moves into his new national role with Common Cause as the Director of Organizational Development. 

Formerly, as the Director of Programs and Strategy, I have been honored to work with all of you to fight for Online Voter Registration, Same Day Registration, and other meaningful democracy reforms. We have accomplished so much over the past three years since we re-launched our state operations in Illinois, but we are just getting started. With your help, we will create a system for Fair Elections where politicians aren’t beholden to a few wealthy donors. We will ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot in every election. We will change the way business is done in our state to ensure our government works for every person in Illinois. 

To get there, we need an amazing staff and I am proud to introduce our newest members of the Common Cause team, Delia Ramirez and Trevor Gervais. 

Delia Ramirez is our new Campaign Manager for Common Cause Illinois. Delia comes to us with over fifteen years of nonprofit experience, thirteen of them as staff with the Center for Changing Lives (formerly Humboldt Park Social Services) where she served as Executive Director from 2004 to 2013. In 2005, Delia founded the Center for Changing Lives (CCL) in order to strengthen the existing organization by adding significant support services, creating a holistic approach to ending homelessness through economic development, housing counseling and placement, and financial stability resources. Under her leadership, the organization tripled its operating budget, quadrupled its number of employees, and increased its service delivery to over 2,500 community households. Delia recently completed an Emerging Leader Fellowship with The Chicago Community Trust, which provides professional development and training in community development to leaders in the Chicago-area public sector. Delia has a bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University and serves on various local and national committees and boards within the United Methodist Church. 

Trevor Gervais recently started as our new Lead Organizer for Common Cause Illinois. Trevor joins us from a community organizing background that has heavily focused on voting rights and education equity. Trevor held the posts of Regional Field Director and GOTV Director at Organizing for America, where he oversaw the registration of more than 12,000 new voters. He has also worked at the local level to decrease class sizes and increase student representation within school boards. Trevor holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Arizona in Political Science and Latin American Studies. As Lead Organizer, Trevor will work with all of our Common Cause members in Illinois, building a diverse community engagement program in order to establish fair elections and expand our constituency.

With Delia and Trevor joining our team, we are in our strongest position yet to make meaningful reforms across our state. To allow us to continue to grow our statewide movement, we also need our supporters to invest in the organization. Your support allows us to build campaigns that create a more accountable government in Illinois. 

Donate today and help us continue the momentum in Illinois!

I am excited for the future of Common Cause, but most importantly, I am excited for the change that is coming to Illinois because of people like you. I look forward to continuing to work with you over the coming months and working together for political reform and justice. 

Thank you,

Brian Gladstein, Executive Director
Common Cause Illinois