Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez is a mother and resident of the Albany Park neighborhood. Prior to taking office in 2019, she worked as a youth educator and was involved in community groups as an activist and organizer.

Her priorities as alderwoman include protecting neighborhood affordability, supporting our ward’s immigrant population, young people, and diverse communities, investing in our neighborhood schools, organizing our neighbors to care for and protect each other, and creating more democratic processes so that ward residents are involved in the decisions that impact their lives. 

Originally from Puerto Rico, Alderwoman Rodriguez-Sanchez has been a lifelong advocate for public education, labor rights, and the wellbeing of youth and families. Her career as an educator includes eight years as a director and mentor in a nationally acclaimed youth theater company in Albany Park, where she guided high school students to fulfill their artistic and academic potential.  She is the first Latinx Alderman to represent the 33rd Ward. 

She was appointed as Chair of City Council’s Committee on Health and Human Relations in 2023 and is a member of the Committees on Budget and Government Operations, Committees and Rules,  Education and Child Development, Environmental Protection and Energy, Finance, Housing and Real Estate, and Immigrant and Refugee Rights for the 2023 – 2027 term. 

She was elected Chair of the Chicago City Council Latino Caucus between 2023-2025, and serves as a member of the board of the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation. She is a member of the Chicago City Council Progressive Caucus, the Chicago City Council LGBTQ+ Caucus, and the Chicago City Council Democratic Socialist Caucus.

Veronica Tirado is a public health educator who has worked in health research, harm reduction programs, mental health services, and restorative justice initiatives in Chicago and Puerto Rico. She completed her Master’s in Public Health Education from the University of Puerto Rico. 

Since 2019, Veronica has served in local government, first in the 33rd ward office and now as Chief of Staff for the City Council Committee on Health and Human Relations, where she works at the intersection of public service, policy, and organizing. Her work supports initiatives rooted in care, harm reduction, and evidence-based decision-making. 

Veronica was drawn to this work to help translate movement demands into lasting change and is inspired every day by the ways neighbors care for one another and build power together. She believes that organizing in our neighborhoods is essential because when people are equipped with support, not punishment, they can take power back and create real safety. Outside of work, Veronica enjoys cooking, walking in the parks, and exploring Chicago’s incredible restaurants.

I can answer your questions regarding: Scheduling meetings with the Alderwoman and/or other staff, media inquiries, Alderman’s legislative work

John Cruz-Barcenas is a die-hard Chicagoan and a proud product of Chicago Public Schools. After graduating from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, John attended Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. At MSOE, John was a student athlete and was a part of the first baseball team in school history to appear in the NCAA tournament. After MSOE, John received his Master of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, specializing in Energy & Environmental Policy and Health Policy. John also worked at the UChicago Justice Project during his time on campus, where he contributed to various projects and worked to change the narrative around what public safety truly means. 

John has also spent time as an environmental organizer at the Southeast Environmental Task Force and has held multiple positions on staff for 33rd Ward Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez, now returning as Deputy Chief of Staff. John works to blend his extensive academic, athletic, strategic, and grassroots knowledge to help find and implement solutions on how to make our systems and institutions work for the many, not the few.

I can answer questions about: Collaborations and Community Events, Participatory Budgeting, Safety, Policy, Menu Budgets, and General inquiries about our office!

Jonathan Nagy is a community organizer and artist. He moved to Chicago in 2015 from Grafton, Ohio, a small village outside of Cleveland, Ohio, after finishing his graduate studies in Architecture and Urban Design. After practicing architecture in Chicago for many years, he left the practice to work as a bread baker at a local bakery to reconnect with his community. While baking he managed his own graphic design practice, where he was able to develop outreach materials for local grassroots organizations. 

He is passionate about connecting his neighbors to information that impacts them through thoughtful and straightforward explanations. In a time when we are provided information from so many sources, he hopes to help rebuild our neighbors’ trust in their local organizations and government offices to provide helpful guidance about what’s happening in their communities and around the world. 

As a gay man who was born and raised in a rural community, he has experienced repression and misinformation while seeking healthcare through the majority of his life, and has seen the negative impacts of our country’s broken healthcare system on his community and so many others. Through the Committee on Health and Human Relations, he is excited to work to develop hearings, trainings, and policies to elevate public awareness of the resources available through our health department and other government agencies. 

In his free time, Jonathan can be found baking, cooking food for friends, reading a history or science fiction book, or exploring a local museum or art show.

I can answer questions about: Adding promotions to our weekly newsletter, connecting on social media, sharing resources with neighbors, policies that the alderwoman supports, and developing new policy proposals

Rebecca Rios is a Chicago native, born and raised in West Town/Humboldt Park/Ukrainian Village. She is passionate about community, youth development, and housing. She is a mother and a former Chicago high school educator. She studied History and Latinx and Latin American History at Northeastern Illinois University and cares deeply about fully funded public education and social justice. As Director of Zoning and Housing Services for the 33rd ward, she is passionate about empowering community voices through Community Driven Zoning and Development and advocating for more affordable and accessible housing for all. In her downtime, she loves to dance, swim, and do fun activities with her child and friends.  

I can answer your questions regarding: Zoning and zoning change requests, housing resources, tenant rights, emergency rental assistance

Abraham has over eight years of experience in non-profit community organizing. He has dedicated his career to building stronger, more connected neighborhoods. Growing up in Albany Park, He witnessed firsthand how powerful a united community can be, and that experience continues to inspire his work in local government today.

Outside of work, Abraham likes listening to live music, collaborating on art projects, enjoying nature, checking out local arcades, and trying new foods.

I can help residents navigate: business licensing, permits, property tax appeals, Disability Parking, Block Party Permits, and other neighborhood services.

Camila has a background in education and harm reduction, particularly within the domestic violence sector through partner abuse intervention programs. Her journey into local government service was driven by a passion for fostering restorative community care and empowering youth. She is inspired by the belief that organizing within neighborhoods and promoting mutual care are essential for building resilient communities. Camila is committed to continuously learning how to better support community needs. In her free time, she enjoys writing and creating visual art as self-care.

!Que tal todos! This is Ariana Aguilar. She is the Neighborhood Services Coordinator of the 33rd Ward Office. Ariana has been a community organizer for five years now and is inspired to continue working for the needs of the people through community building in the 33rd Ward Office. Ariana believes that community is the fundamental function of humanity and organizing is the active participation in that function which is why she navigates her work through care and community. Aside from reading biographies and theoretical books, Ariana enjoys composing autobiographies.  Listening to music is one of Ariana’s favorite pastimes. Find her jamming to music when walking into our office. 

I can answer your questions regarding: I am a notary and can help you notarize documents (I do not have a digital stamp), Traffic Studies, Yard Sale Permits, Block Party Permits, Letters of Exceptions, Si necesita ayuda en Español

Father, community organizer, Union Ironworker, and now your Ward Superintendent. Eric is a Chicago native, passionate and proud of his city and all its residents. From building the city, to organizing to help those in need, to keeping the streets clean and getting you the services you need. Eric strives everyday to improve the lives of Chicagoans. Eric spends his free time with his two children, feeding his love for live music, reading, and helping out at a local free store. If you see him driving around the 33rd Ward in his Streets and Sanitation truck be sure to say hello and let him know if there’s anything you need.

I can answer your questions regarding: Street cleaning, snow removal, garbage pick-up, fly dumping, sanitation code violations