Ben McAdams: Right on Track

An old photo of Ben McAdams as a child, standing at a podium at the Smithsonian.

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 and went on to become a community organizer after graduation working in communities 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 hopes to bring this approach to the Illinois legislature to advocate on behalf of his community.

Ben McAdams holds his law school degree and smiles in front of the Chicago theatre.

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, becoming a member of the school’s Society for Asylum and Immigration Law (SAIL), and earning an award for the highest grade 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, where he provided representation to clients who couldn’t afford legal services and made sure that everyone has their right to due process respected under the law.

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.

Ben McAdams smiles in front of Metra tracks in a blue suit.