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Mike Simmons, a Black and LGBT activist community organizer, was appointed to the 7th district seat vacated by Illinois state Sen. Heather Steans. He will speak for the residents and workers of the North Side communities of Rogers Park, Edgewater, Andersonville, Uptown, et al.
The founder of Chicago-based Blue Sky Strategies, Simmons has targeted politicians and other civic influencers to create more equitable public policy for people of color—especially in urban planning, education, and developing Black and queer leaders. He has used his experience to create leadership programs for youth and helped a past city administration bring grocery stores to food deserts—where residents are more likely to be poor and people of color.