Jessie Fuentes

is A queer latina grassroots organizer, educator, and public policy advocate. Her work is informed by fifteen years of experience in education, criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and sustainable community development.

Homegrown.

Jessie is a child of Humboldt Park. Due to the devastating impacts of gentrification, generational trauma, and poverty, Jessie and her family were forced to move multiple times throughout her childhood.

Like too many young Chicagoans, zero tolerance policies led her to be dismissed from her neighborhood high school, an experience that would radically shift her trajectory.

After briefly considering dropping out, she found herself a Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos High School, an alternative high school on Paseo Boricua. It was there that she was politicized by educators who understood her life experiences, taught her the principles of restorative justice, and encouraged her to learn about her ancestry.

She graduated high school, earned a degree from NEIU, and returned home to serve as the Dean of Students at Roberto Clemente Community Academy, and later, her alma mater.

HARD-WORKING.

As Dean, she ensured Black and Latine students had access to resources to transcend their traumas and pursue their aspirations. She stewarded healing-centered engagement, partnering with violence interrupters to provide wraparound support to students and families.

She served as co-chair of the Puerto Rican Agenda, where she helped lead the effort that designated Humboldt Park an official Cultural District.

Amidst the pandemic, the gaps in government support were too large to ignore — from lack of vaccine access to increased gun violence. Jessie left education to become the Director of Policy & Youth Advocacy at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center.

Stepping into legislative work, she championed community-driven solutions to address violence, housing affordability, and re-entry for returning citizens.

PROGRESSIVE FOR THE 26TH WARD.

In 2023, Jessie won her primary outright in a 4-way race, becoming the youngest person, the first woman, and first queer Latina elected to lead the 26th Ward.

Since becoming alderperson, she has proudly chief sponsored progressive legislation that supports working families first, including One Fair Wage, the Northwest Side Housing Preservation Ordinance, and the COPA Amendment.

She chairs City Council’s Subcommittee on Youth Employment and is the first alder to bring community-driven zoning, participatory budgeting, the VPI-centered Community Safety Committee to the 26th Ward.

As your Alderperson, Jessie delivers:

  • Community Safety Through Investment & Care

    Real safety comes from every block having the resources, opportunity, support, and partnerships families need to thrive.

  • Housing Justice, Neighborhood Stability & Local Economic Opportunity

    Growth means the people who built our neighborhoods get to continue living, working, and building their future here.

  • Government That Works for Working Families

    Government rooted in community, accountability, accessibility, and results.