Meet Mary…
Mary Stonor Saunders (she/her) is Policy and Outreach Manager for Common Cause Illinois. Mary brings over 25 years of experience from both the profit and not-for-profit sectors. Her substantive expertise is with strategy, civic/community engagement, program development, fundraising, communications, and collaborative initiatives. Central to all her work is a commitment to equity, authentic relationships, the strategic value of proximity and addressing the intersectionality of our greatest challenges. She is a powerful communicator across a broad range of stakeholders.
Most recently before joining Common Cause, Mary served as the inaugural executive director of Strides for Peace whose mission is to create a Chicago where all can thrive, free from the fear of gun violence by increasing the collective impact of community organizations and providing new pathways for people who care to get involved. She holds an M.S. from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (Crown) and Health Administration and Policy, and a B.A. from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.