Ben McAdams:
Right on Track
Ben is a lifelong resident of Illinois and the Chicagoland area.
Growing up in Lombard, Ben attended the College of DuPage before transferring to Elmhurst University (then college) where he double majored in finance and economics. While in college, Ben became involved with local activism. First with Bernie Sanders Presidential campaign and then other progressive causes like the fight for universal healthcare and candidates like Congresswoman Marie Newman.
Ben went on to become a community organizer after graduation, working across the Chicagoland area. As an organizer, Ben learned that to truly help a community, you need to spend more time meeting with the people and listening to their problems, and less time talking at them. He looks forward to bringing this listening-first approach to the Illinois legislature to advocate on behalf of the communities in District 24.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben began law school at DePaul University’s College of Law.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ben began law school at DePaul University’s College of Law.
In law school, he focused his studies on Public Interest Law, adding classes like Consumer Protection Law and Poverty Law to his courseload. He became a member of the school’s Society for Asylum and Immigration Law (SAIL), and earned the CALI Excellence for the Future in his Civil Rights Law class.
While at DePaul, Ben worked for several legal non-profit organizations, including the National Immigrant Justice Center and Citizen Advocacy Center. Here, he provided representation to clients who couldn’t afford legal services and made sure that everyone had their right to due process respected under the law. He also worked on cases for refugees and clients seeking asylum who had been subjected to torture, human trafficking, unlawful detainment, and other horrific conditions.
Ben believes in creating an Illinois where all residents can afford the basic necessities of life, such as healthcare and housing, without feeling economic anxiety. He believes in creating communities where everyone can live safe and fulfilling lives regardless of who they are or where they come from.
