Mary Ellen Guest
Role with A+ Illinois: Campaign Manager
Residence: Beverly, a neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side
Previous Experience: For the past eight years, I worked as executive director of Working in the Schools, a literacy organization that provides reading tutors and mentors for at-risk Chicago Public School students. I’ve also worked as the director of a corporate foundation, and managed political campaigns for national, statewide and local races.
Best school memory: My high school teachers, the Sinsinawa Dominican nuns. It was the early 1970’s, a time of radical change. These progressive, committed women taught us about social justice and challenged us to find ways to serve throughout our lives.
Book I am currently reading: The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama. I am inspired by his vision of how “how we can move beyond our divisions to tackle concrete problems.” I think that audacious hope is the underpinning of A+ Illinois.
Contact information: meguest@aplusillinois.org, or 312-516-5575
Christopher Butler
Role with A+ Illinois: Field Director
Residence: Englewood, a neighborhood on Chicago's South Side
Previous experience: I was director of Organized Students of Chicago, and coordinated youth and young adults on the South Side and in the south suburbs in support of now-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's campaign. I also have had a lot of community organizing experience on the West Side. And, I am a product of Chicago Public Schools.
Best school memory: That would have to be finding out that I was going to be Battalion Commander of the Whitney Young Navy ROTC.
Book I'm currently reading: Where Have All the Dreamers Gone? by William E. Brown
Contact information: cbutler@aplusillinois.org or 312-402-2204
Clare Fauke
Role with A+Illinois: Communications Director
Residence: Logan Square, a neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side
Previous experience: For several years I worked on organizing and contract campaigns for the hotel workers’ union. Previously, I conducted research and advocacy on behalf of women’s organizations in South Africa and published a chapter in a book on the subject. I also have experience conducting polling and opinion research.
Best school memory: I’ll never forget a teacher in high school who had such high expectations and always pushed me to do better.
Book I'm currently reading: Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero-Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, by Lynne Truss
Contact information: cfauke@aplusillinois.org or 312-516-5576
Laurel Bault
Role with A+ Illinois: Organizing supporters in the western collar counties
Residence: Elgin, IL
Previous experience: For the last seven years I worked as Family Involvement Coordinator and along with an awesome staff and dedicated families in Elgin. We built a community school, significantly improving student achievement. I have also worked on several local political campaigns in the last three years as well as running for office myself.
Best school memory: My best school memory is not about my school years but that of my friend Rosemary. She signed up for GED classes at our community school to be a good role model to her adopted children, who biologically are her great nieces and nephew. She is an inspiration to many.
Book I’m currently reading: "The Beloved Community" by Charles Marsh which is a history of how faith has shaped social justice, from the civil rights movement until today.
Contact information: lbault@aplusillinois.org or 630-484-4874
Vince Casillas
Role with A+ Illinios: Organizing supporters in the Rockford area and in Illinois' various Latino communities
Residence: West Elsdon, a neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side
Previous experience: I’ve worked in child welfare, education and prevention fields.
Best School Memory: I went to an all-male Catholic school. During our senior year we were required to go to a week-long spiritual retreat. During the prime years of personal narcissism, it helped me to really understand that the world didn’t revolve around me. I learned that I’m a part of something much bigger than myself.
Book I'm currently reading: The Other Face of America by Jorge Ramos, (thoughtful and provocative writing on the Latino political landscape)
Contact information: vcasillas@aplusillinois.org or 312-623-0131