La Shawn K. Ford Full Legislative Bio & Accomplishments

La Shawn K. Ford - Full Legislative Bio & Accomplishments

-La Shawn K. Ford

La shawn k. ford - Personal Background

Born to an unwed teenage mother in the Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago, never knowing his father, and adopted by his grandmother at birth, La Shawn K. Ford started his life with few material advantages. When he was two, Ford’s family moved into a two-flat family building at Leclaire and Chicago Avenues in the Austin community on the West Side of Chicago. Through hard work, love, and tenacity, his family provided him a chance to attend the school across the street, Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Elementary School. They overcame further challenges when a fire gutted the family home when he was seven, causing Ford and other family members to live with relatives for some time on the South Side of Chicago in the Back of the Yards/Englewood community.

Ford learned the value of hard work and made money for his family by shoveling snow, mowing lawns, collecting bottles and cans for recycling, and stocking produce in the local grocery store. Because of his drive to help people even at an early age, Ford was called “The Alderman” in the neighborhood.

Incorporating the values taught by his church and school, and being a good student, Ford enrolled in another Catholic school, Weber High School. After high school, Ford became the first in his family to attend a four-year college when he entered Niles College Seminary, and he contemplated becoming a priest. After a year, he entered Loyola University, where he played on the basketball team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Political Science.

For six years, Ford taught social studies to elementary school students and coached basketball in the Chicago Public Schools at Bridge Elementary on the Northwest Side and worked as a Precinct Captain in the neighborhood where he grew up.

As a licensed Real Estate Broker, he then decided to pursue his goal of opening his own business in real estate, and he achieved that goal by becoming the founder and owner of Ford Desired Real Estate, providing services to hundreds of clients since 2001. He is also an Illinois Licensed Insurance Agent and continues to be licensed as a teacher. He lives in the Austin community where he grew up and is the proud father of his daughter, Tia.

Political History and Philosophy

In 2006, campaigning on the theme “Building Bridges to Success,” La Shawn K. Ford earned the opportunity to represent the people of the Eighth District by winning a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. His victory marked the beginning of a long career defined by accessibility, hard work, and deep commitment to the communities he serves.

Since then, voters have repeatedly renewed their trust in him — re-electing him in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 — and electing him as a delegate to the 2012, 2016, and 2024 Democratic National Conventions.

Representing one of the most diverse districts in Illinois — including the West Side of Chicago and the suburbs of Oak Park, Berwyn, North Riverside, Forest Park, Proviso Township, Brookfield, La Grange Park, La Grange, and Western Springs — Ford has consistently focused on issues that matter to working families.

He reaches residents through his radio shows on WVON 1690 and WCPT 820 (“Chicago HEAL”), his cable TV program on CAN-TV, his weekly “As I See It” columns, town halls, neighborhood meetings, and direct engagement across the district — making him one of the most accessible and community-connected leaders in Illinois.

His town halls have addressed early childhood education, school improvement, IDOT job opportunities, concealed-carry legislation, school governance, cannabis reform, senior issues, public safety, utilities, unemployment challenges, small business support, veterans’ needs, foster care and adoption, menthol reduction efforts, violence prevention, and the heroin/opioid epidemic. Ford also helped create the Parents Political University, a grassroots effort that empowers families to shape policy and community action.

Throughout his tenure, Ford has championed social justice, equity, and expanded opportunity, driving legislation that advances jobs, education, health, second chances for returning citizens, small business development, housing, and veterans’ services. He has consistently upheld the constitutional principles of eliminating poverty and inequality, ensuring legal and economic justice, and expanding opportunity for all.

Some Legislative and Community Accomplishments – 2007-present

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOBS

Introduced legislation that was signed into law creating the African American Employment Plan Act to: (1) improve the delivery of State services to Illinois’ African Americans; (2) increase the number of African Americans who are employed throughout State government and who are promoted; (3) assist State agencies in meeting goals established by the African American Employment Plan; and (4) establish an African American Employment Plan Advisory Council (Public Act 096-1341)

• Introduced the State Employment Application Act (Ban the Box) stipulating that an application for state employment may not ask if the applicant had been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense; introduced in the 95th GA, passed bill through House and Senate, vetoed by the governor in 2007, veto not overriden; similar legislation introduced in the 96th, 97th and 98th General Assemblies; governor issued Administrative Order in May 2013 accomplishing the intent of the legislation

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which gives returning citizens/ex-offenders the opportunity to seal criminal records for certain Class 3 and 4 non-violent offenses to expand job opportunities (Public Act 98-0142)

• Chief Co-Sponsor of legislation which became law establishing grants for training in the building trades (Public Act 101-0469)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law that provides that records of charges that result in an acquittal or dismissal with prejudice, except for minor traffic offenses, may be immediately sealed after the final disposition of the case (Public Act 100-0282)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which creates the Commission on Young Adult Employment Act which shall identify issues concerning the readiness and ability of young adults to find employment after completing their education (Public Act 99-0338), and introduced legislation that became law which extends the repeal date of the Act from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2022 (Public Act 100-1147)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which established the Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Task Force, with the President of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as Chair (Public Act 98-0515)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law to consider all homeless service providers in the state of Illinois as essential critical infrastructure workers (Public Act 102-0919)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law that establishes a banking development district program (Public Act 102-0802)

• Named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development (SBE-WD) Committee in the 97th,98th, and 99th General Assemblies

• Chaired SBE-WD Committee Meetings on Job Creation – July 2011 – more than 500 attended

• Chaired hearing on Criminal Records Sealing Bill HB5723 and Ban the Box HB1210, August 2012

• Sponsors Career Fairs linking thousands of job seekers with potential employers; partnered with State of Illinois Central Management Services, Chicago Urban League, Malcolm X College and others to host thousands of job seekers and more than 80 employers/vendors

• Sponsored a Parent Resource Day and Career Fair at Michele Clark High School to offer resources for families looking for work and interested in helping their children in school

• Hosted a Town Hall meeting to discuss the Eisenhower Expressway expansion and job opportunities through the Illinois Department of Transportation

• Holds workshops to teach how to write successful grant applications

• Partnered with Bethel New Life to host workshop on How to Effectively Manage an Office

• Teams with YWCA to hold Workshops in Economic Empowerment, especially for women

• Organized Job Intake Fairs in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Employment Security at 5 Chicagoland locations for Vehicle Assembler jobs at Ford Motor Company, 2011

• Arranged buses and opportunity for more than 200 job seekers who took the bus with Rep. Ford or met him at the Thompson Center and learned how to test and apply for state or private jobs – February 2011

• Hosted Time for Xcellence event in August 2012 to link ex-offenders to community resources

• Panel Member on Town Hall Meeting on Teen Unemployment at Malcolm X College with Laura Washington, November 2011

• Held Workforce Development Labor Day Open House on August 30, 2013, Paul Simon Job Corps Center

• Hosted an event at his Chicago office with 45 participants with issues with child support looking to reinstate their licenses, 2016

• Sends daily Workforce Development emails with at least 20 pages of job leads to thousands of subscribers

IMPROVING HEALTH

A Leader in Legislation Related to HIV/AIDS

• Introduced landmark legislation in two different General Assemblies, both becoming law, which makes it easier and less intrusive for patients to be routinely tested for HIV in health care settings while preserving the rights of those being tested (Public Act 095-0007 in the 95th General Assembly and updated as Public Act 99-0054 in the 99th General Assembly)

• Introduced legislation that became law to update state statutes so the most up to date supplemental testing is done to confirm a preliminary positive HIV test (Public Act 097-0244)

• Introduced legislation that became law so all CD-4 counts and HIV viral loads are reported to the Illinois Department of Public Health to improve the care of patients with HIV (Public Act 097-0550)

• Introduced legislation that became law which protects the privacy of students who have HIV by repealing a 20 year old law which required public health departments to notify the principal if a student had HIV (Public Act 98-0353)

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 0065 (96th GA) urging the Department of Public Health to establish a comprehensive plan to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS

• Received 2015 AIDS Foundation of Chicago Innovation Award for HIV Policy and Legislation, as leader and organizer of the HIV Community Collaboration

• Discussed public policy issues with experts at 2008 International AIDS Conference, Mexico City

A Leader in Improving Nutrition and Exercise

• Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement Program Act, which helps people use their LINK cards (Food Stamps) at Farmers’ Markets (Public Act 096-1088)

• Chief House Sponsor for successful legislation that amends the Local Food, Farms and Jobs Act to establish an electronic database to facilitate the purchase of fresh produce and food products by schools (Public Act 096-1095)

• Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the State Board of Education to develop and maintain a nutrition and physical activity best practices database (Public Act 096-1223)

• Introduced legislation to ban trans fats in foods served by food facilities in 97th GA, passed the House, lost in the Senate; re-introduced in 98th GA (HB77) passed House, to be reintroduced

• Since 2008 for fourteen consecutive years on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, has sponsored the Family Health Challenge honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for elementary and junior high students in efforts to combat childhood obesity – more than 400 students participate. Has been held in Chicago, Berwyn and Oak Park. The 12th through 18th Annual Family Health Challenges have focused on improving health by confronting the opioid epidemic and mental health.

• Sponsors community health fairs in conjunction with Circle Family HealthCare Network, Concerned Organization Who Cares, Lawndale Christian Health Center, West Side Heroin-Opioid Task Force, and local aldermen

• Sponsored “What’s Killing Us?” Community Health Fair during Black History Month in association with American Heart Association, Circle Family Health Care Network, Loretto Hospital, TACTS, Black Nurses Association, American Cancer Society, ChildServ, Chicago Department of Health, and IDPH

• Promoted Healthy Eating as part of Black History Month at a local grocery store, Leamington Foods Member of Community Action Team for Healthier Kids (CATH-K), a coalition of 20 organizations working to decrease childhood obesity in Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park

• Speaker, “Update on LINK cards at Farmers Markets”, Green Town 2011, Oak Park

• Active with Building a Healthier Chicago, promoting and participating in the Walk Across Austin, 2011

• Featured Panelist, Illinois Action for Children Community Forum on Childhood Obesity, 2011, Broadview

• In 2012 & 2013 sponsored Annual Heart and Sole Community 5K Family Run and Walk in August in Lafollette Park, Chicago, with Circle Family HealthCare Network and Austin Weekly News

• Runs in 5K runs to support health and community causes throughout Chicagoland

• Has participated in 50 mile bike rides through Chicago on 4 consecutive years to support the work of By The Hand Club for Kids, based in Austin

• Member of the External Advisory Board for Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC)

A Leader in Fighting the Heroin/Opioid Overdose Epidemic

• Co-sponsor of House Bill 1, which became Public Act 99-0480 as the Heroin Crisis Act

• Leader and Co-founder of the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, formed to bring attention to and promote solutions regarding the severe increase in deaths due to overdoses affecting the West Side of Chicago

• Introduced legislation that became law which permits health insurers to provide coverage for recovery housing for persons with substance use disorders (Public Act 100-1065)

• Introduced legislation (HB 601) and passed similar legislation which became law which requires opioid treatment programs to also report the prescription or dispensing of controlled substances to the state prescription drug monitoring program (Public Act 102-0527)

• Introduced legislation (HB 110) in the 102nd GA and HB 2929 in the 104th GA for which Department of Human Services shall have the authority to approve any pilot overdose prevention site, including establishing minimum standards for patient, client, and participant safety and compliance and monitoring procedures; passed committee with bipartisan support, now in Rules

Prostate Cancer Awareness, Screening, and Treatment

• As a prostate cancer survivor himself, introduced and passed legislation that became law which requires health insurance in Illinois to cover screening for prostate cancer without a co-pay (Public Act 102-1073)

Health Care Access

• Introduced HR 171 in the 104th GA which urges the Illinois General Assembly to reconsider the repeal of the 2013 Medicaid funding trigger law and to protect those who may be impacted by federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid funding cuts, assigned to committee

Pharmacy Deserts

• Introduced HB 591 in 102nd GA that requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to permit medical assistance recipients, including those enrolled in managed care, to obtain pharmacy services from the pharmacy of their choice, passed House Committee, re-referred to Rules

• Introduced HB 4 in the 104th GA that requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to conduct a study on managed care pharmacy access standards, with a focus on disproportionately impacted areas, referred to Rules

Other Health-Related Legislation and Activities

• Chief House Sponsor for legislation that became law requiring the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to establish the Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Quality Improvement Transfer Program, to improve quality in hospitals (Public Act 096-1130)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law stating that a nursing facility may require a resident residing in an Alzheimer’s disease unit with a history of wandering to wear an identification wristlet (Public Act 100-0293)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law establishing the Lupus Education and Awareness Program within the Illinois Department of Public Health (Public Act 096-1108)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law allowing the issuance of Autism Awareness license plate decals (Public Act 103-0112)

• Founded the Lupus Legislative Caucus

• Leader in the successful fight to continue state funding to support University of Illinois-Chicago Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic

• Early in the debate about national health care reform, introduced and passed House Resolution 0565 (96th GA) urging the President and Congress to enact comprehensive health care reform

• Went to Washington, D.C. in July 2009 to lobby Illinois’ congressional delegation to advance health care reform efforts

• Went to Atlanta in August 2013 to meet with other legislative leaders throughout the country on issues of healthcare in rural and underserved areas

• Invited Participant in the Council of State Government’s Medicaid Leadership Policy Academy, Washington, D.C., 2016

• Sponsors blood drives in Chicago, Oak Park and Berwyn, partnering with LifeSource, St. Martin de Porres Church, the Southeast Oak Park Community Organization, and the Combined Veterans of Berwyn

• Sponsors Austin Holiday Food Drive, collecting 10,000 items for local food pantries in 2010

• Former Member, Board of Directors, Circle Family HealthCare Network Community Health Center, Chicago

• Former Member of the Governing Board, West Suburban Medical Center, Oak Park

• Named to the Cook County Health and Hospitals System African American Advisory Council, 2012

IMPROVING EDUCATION

Fighting for a Comprehensive Public High School in Austin

• Introduced idea in Austin Weekly News to locate new high school at Brach’s location at Lake and Cicero, May 31, 2006, and June 1, 2006, and September 6, 2007

• Working with Austin Community Education Network for a new high school, was Keynote Speaker at the Austin Education Summit at Austin Town Hall, October 27, 2007

• Initiated efforts to place a referendum on the ballot urging the construction of a new comprehensive Austin High School

• Introduced and passed HR0011 in the 100th GA urging the City of Chicago to build a new comprehensive high school at the site of the closed Emmet School at Madison and Central

Improving the Quality of Education

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 0056 (96th GA) urging the State Board of Education to establish a comprehensive plan to close the student achievement gap by the 2010-2011 school year

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law authorizing school districts to purchase electronic textbooks, instructional materials, and the technological equipment necessary to support the use of electronic textbooks from publishers and manufacturers (Public Act 96-1403)

• Introduced legislation that became law that provides that a school board shall require the school district’s high schools, if any, to inform all 11th and 12th grade students of dual enrollment and dual credit opportunities at public community colleges for qualified students (Public Act 100-0133)

• Introduced legislation that became law that provides for a remedial summer school program emphasizing reading and mathematics for students performing below grade level for two consecutive years (Public Act 097-0086)

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 1098 (100th GA) which creates the Black History Curriculum Task Force to conduct an audit of every Illinois school district’s Black history curriculum

Increasing Access to Early Childhood Education

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law lowering the compulsory school age to 6 years, from 7 (Public Act 98-0544)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which creates the Commission to Reform Child Care in Illinois (House Resolution 254, 99th GA)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges Congress to pass legislation in support of universal childcare services for working families (House Resolution 497, 99th GA)

• Named to the 2015 and 2016 Illinois State Child Support Advisory Committee

Improving Governance of Schools

• Hosted three Town Hall Meetings in 2012 to hear community views on whether the Chicago Public Schools School Board should be elected

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which establishes a Chicago Educational Governance Task Force to study whether an elected Chicago Public Schools School Board would be the best structure of governance (Public Act 098-1053)

• Named to the Chicago Educational Governance Task Force, 2015

• Introduced bill in 97th GA to give merit pay to elected Local School Council members – did not advance

Increasing Fairness in Education

• Introduced legislation that became law requiring that any money transferred from the State Lottery Fund to the Common School Fund shall be supplemental to, and not in lieu of, any other money due to be transferred to the Common School Fund by law or appropriation. (Public Act 100-0466)

• Co-sponsor of legislation that became law that increases the percentage of grant funds prioritized for Black males and incorporates consideration of financial need in awarding grants (Public Act 101-0654)

• Co-sponsor of legislation that became law that establishes a 22-person Inclusive American History Commission (Public Act 101-0654)

• Introduced legislation to create the Inclusive American History Act, (HB 3875, 102nd GA)

• Introduced legislation establishing that certain lottery sales monies are redistributed to school districts based on the district’s percentage of lottery sales (HB82, 98th GA)

• Introduced legislation directing the State Board of Education to examine the impact and effectiveness of standardized testing (HB3163, 98th GA) – passed the House

• Introduced legislation to assist victims of domestic or sexual violence complete their secondary school education (HB 2213, 98th GA)– passed the House, to be reintroduced

• Introduced legislation directing the State Board of Education to establish a standard student expulsion policy (HB2880, 98th GA)

• Introduced legislation stating that school boards shall require its schools to connect at-risk students in need of academic support to either community-based or in-school academic support (HB4205, 100th GA, reintroduced as HB190, 101st GA), in committee

Hosting Town Hall Meetings on Issues in Education

• Hosted Town Hall meeting on Early Childhood Education in Berwyn

• Held Hearings of State of Illinois House of Representatives Sub-committee on Education in the Eighth District to improve education in the Eighth District – Chicago and Oak Park

• Chair of Subcommittee Hearing of the House Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education Committee at Bethel New Life

• Sponsor of Education Summits in Austin and Oak Park to discuss education improvement and funding

• Hosted public hearing on Renaissance 2010 at previous Austin High School

• Co-hosted Truancy Town Hall Meeting, April 2013

Promoting Opportunities for Students and Personal Civic Engagement

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law which creates the Foster Youth Summer Internship Pilot Program (Public Act 99-0285)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges the boards of trustees of every public university in Illinois to provide housing scholarships to college students who are registered as homeless (House Resolution 135, 99th General Assembly)

• Co-sponsor of legislation which became law which requires at least one semester of civics in grades 6,7, or 8 (Public Act 101-0254)

• Hosted Civics Saturday to increase the knowledge of students of the law and their rights, May 2015

• Hosted more than 500 middle school students at Malcolm X College on February 1 to kick off Black History Month in a program called “College is an Option”, to learn about programs at the City Colleges of Chicago, 2011 and 2012

• Principal for a Day at Spencer Math and Science Academy and at George Rogers Clark Elementary School

• Commencement Speaker, Michele Clark Academic Prep. High School

• Commencement Speaker, Paul Simon Job Corps Center

• Visited medical school in Cuba, September 2011; visited Cuban schools again in 2016

• Visited secondary schools in the United Kingdom, July 2012

• Previous Member, Board of Directors, Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory High School, Austin

• Elected as Community Representative on the Local School Council (LSC) of George Rogers Clark Elementary School in the South Austin Community, 2014

PROMOTING SMALL BUSINESSES

Introduced legislation that became law establishing a micro-loan program for qualified ex-offenders who are establishing their own businesses (Public Act 096-0656)

• Introduced legislation that became law providing that not less than 10% of state contracts be awarded to small businesses (Public Act 97-0307)

• Introduced legislation that became law establishing the Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Task Force, with the President of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees as Chair (Public Act 98-0515)

• Introduced legislation that became law which provides that the Division of Banking of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall review the federal Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations of any financial institution regulated by the Division to monitor the efforts state chartered banks are making to meet the credit needs of the communities in which they serve, including low-income and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking practice (Public Act 100-0304)

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 1652 (96th GA) urging Congress to establish a small business recession rescue task force

• Introduced House Resolution 0576 (96th GA) calling on Congress to support community banks that were greatly affected by the economic downturn but had not yet received any rescue funds

• Introduced legislation (HB3868 – 97th GA) better defining “small business” and “very small business” for the sake of procurement by the state of Illinois, and providing that not less than 1% of state contracts be awarded to very small businesses – did not advance

• Named Chair of the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee of the 97th and 98th General Assemblies

• Name Chair of the House Financial Institutions Committee, 100th GA

• Hosted, along with Chicagoland Foreign Investment Group, a Small Business Seminar on Funding and State Contracts for Small Businesses, December 2011, more than 100 attended

• Formed State Representative La Shawn K. Ford’s Business Growth and Creation Committee, with the mission of promoting economic vitality, by providing advice, training, resources, and research to entrepreneurs and existing businesses, with the vision of increasing the number of strong small businesses and creating more job opportunities

• Attended and contributed at Jobs Summits convened by the National Association of State Legislatures: 2013 in Austin, Texas; 2014 in San Jose, California

• Hosted an event to discuss how to start and strengthen credit unions, 2016

SECURING HOUSING AND PREVENTING FORECLOSURES

Introduced legislation that became law providing that a defaulting homeowner be notified by mail that they have the right to remain in their home for 30 days after the entry of the order of possession (Public Act 095-0826)

• Introduced legislation that became law requiring the name and contact information of the holder of foreclosed property be recorded and available to the public (Public Act 096-0110)

• Introduced legislation that became law making it illegal for condo associations to disapprove a sale of a condo unit if the buyer uses financing guaranteed by the FHA (Public Act 096-0228)

• Introduced legislation that became law increasing the penalties for anyone falsely posing as a landlord and obtaining rent or security deposits (Public Act 096-0496)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law that states that the recorder of deeds may adopt rules establishing a mechanics lien demand and referral process for residential property; specifically, if the recorder shows by clear and convincing evidence that the mechanics lien in question is an expired lien (if a suit to enforce the lien has not been commenced by the lienholder or a counterclaim has not been filed within 2 years), the administrative law judge shall rule the lien is forfeited and that the lien no longer affects the chain of title of the property in any way (Public Act 100-1061)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law to prohibit discrimination based on the source of income to restrict the ability to rent, to decrease homelessness (Public Act 102-0896)

• In November 2008, introduced and passed House Resolution 1276 (96th GA) urging Congress to enact a 2-year moratorium on interest rate reset increases under sub-prime adjustable-rate mortgage home loans

• Introduced resolution which was adopted urging the U.S. Congress to help prevent residential foreclosures (97th GA – HR 0045)

• Formed a Foreclosure Prevention Task Force for the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs, July 2011

• Sponsored Foreclosure Town Hall Meeting by being the Chair of Congressman Danny K. Davis’ Advisory Committee on Foreclosures

• Moderator of Summit on the Foreclosure Crisis at Congressman Danny K Davis’ State of the District Meeting

• Sponsor of Homeowner Outreach Days, Malcolm X College

• Is a leader in advocating for funding for affordable housing in Illinois

SUPPORTING OUR TROOPS AND VETERANS

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 0622 (95th GA) urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to allow free mailing of letters and packages to combat troops

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law which establishes special vehicle license decals to support the treatment of veterans with PTSD through K-9s for Veterans (Public Act 101-0248)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law that requires state universities to report on the recruitment and retention of veterans (Public Act 103-0862)

• Joined to support the Combined Veterans of Berwyn and spoke at Flag Day celebration, Proska Park, Berwyn

• Named Veteran and Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. Jonathan Tate as his District Community and Veterans Outreach Coordinator

• Held coffee in Oak Park in September 2013 bringing together service providers and veterans

• Awarded Patriotic Employer Award from the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, in recognition of his extraordinary support of a member of his staff who is serving in the Illinois Army National Guard

• Awarded a flag that had flown over Kuwait on 9/11/2014, presented by the Illinois Army National Guard

• Spoke at the Deployment Ceremony at the North Riverside Armory for the 710th Area Support Medical Company being deployed to Afghanistan

• Gave Award of Recognition to the outgoing Headquarters Company Commander of the 108th Sustainment Brigade, Captain Elliott Griggs

SAFEGUARDING OUR ENVIRONMENT

• Sponsored legislation (HB6342 – 95th GA) providing tax credits for those who use mass transit

• Sponsored and passed legislation that became law that increases energy conservation in State of Illinois buildings (Public Act 95-0104)

• Teamed with Bethel New Life to host a CEDA Energy Fair to spread information about energy conservation and reducing heating bills

• Leader in the fight to declare those areas affected by the July 2010 floods as disaster areas, and assisted residents to apply for aid by teaming with schools to open their computer labs to the public

ADDRESSING THE BUDGET DEFICIT

• Introduced House Joint Resolution 0083 (96th GA) establishing the State Financial Crisis Task Force within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to address means of cutting costs and obtaining more revenue

INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY AND DECREASING VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

In follow-up to public discussion and two Town Hall meetings in Summer 2011, introduced and passed HR 550 (97th GA) establishing the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, charged with analyzing data from other states with concealed carry laws and examining other firearm-related public safety issues in Illinois, chairing two Task Force meetings in Spring 2012

• Introduced legislation which has established the Violence Prevention Task Force, with the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health as Chair (Public Act 98-0194)

• Introduced legislation which has established the Violence Prevention Task Force (Public Act 98-0194); and introduced and passed House Resolution 648 in the 100th General Assembly that reconstitutes the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, and named Chair of the Task Force

• Introduced legislation that became law prohibiting tinted front windshields and front side windows on cars (Public Act 096-0530)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law which allows courts to consider more severe sentences of a person uses a prostitute who is a ward of DCFS (Public Act 099-0347)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law which creates the Smart Phone Theft Protection Act (Public Act 099-0327)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges Congress to require replica gun manufacturers to design these guns to be bright colors (HR 134 – 99th General Assembly)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges the Inspector General of the City of Chicago to conduct a performance audit of the Chicago Police Department to determine and assess police emergency response times in Chicago neighborhoods and communities and to make recommendations to improve response times in primarily African American and Hispanic neighborhoods and communities (House Resolution 569, 99th GA and again House Resolution 0006, 100th GA)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which urges Congress, consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, to pass a law prohibiting parents from cyber-bullying their children by posting messages or images on social media sites on the internet that intimidate, coerce, harass, or cause substantial emotional distress to their children (House Resolution 0014 – 100th GA)

• Introduced legislation to ensure that children and youth who are parents, expectant parents, or the victims of domestic or sexual violence are identified by schools in a manner respectful of their privacy and safety; treated with dignity and regard; and provided the protection, instruction, and related support services necessary to enable them to meet State educational standards and successfully attain a high school diploma – HB2213 – 98th GA – passed the House, to be reintroduced

• Proposed using the Illinois National Guard to work with other law enforcement agencies to combat violence in Chicago

• Proposed increased funding for police in high violence areas (HR1208- 96th GA)

• Introduced legislation to create a “Scratch Out Crime” lottery ticket to fund the hiring of more police (HB79, 98th GA)

• Hosted Town Hall meeting Violence: Black in America, August 2012

• Hosted Summit on Violence Prevention at John Hay Community Academy in Chicago

• Organized and hosted First Day of Summer Day of Mourning to honor children who had died in the community, and works with community groups to reduce gun violence

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE

A Leader in Responsible Parenting

• Sponsored legislation that became law that established the Council on Responsible Fatherhood, which aims to support fathers and help them to become more responsible (Public Act 095-0960)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law amending the Illinois Parentage Act so paternity testing is done using the most modern DNA testing methods (Public Act 096-1074)

• Introduced legislation for Equal Parenting (HB4113, 100th GA; reintroduced as HB185, 101st GA) that provides that it is presumed that it is in the child’s best interests to award equal time to each parent and provides that it is presumed that both parents are fit and the court shall not place any restrictions on parenting time unless it finds by clear and convincing evidence otherwise, in committee.

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 418, 100th GA, that requires the audit to include a review of abuse and neglect investigations conducted by the Department of Children and Family Services in Fiscal Years 2015-2017

• Named to the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood, April 2012

A Leader in Providing Access to Financial Institutions and Resources

• Introduced legislation that became law that provides that the Division of Banking of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall review the federal Community Reinvestment Act performance evaluations of any financial institution regulated by the Division to monitor the efforts State chartered banks are making to meet the credit needs of the communities in which they serve, including low-income and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound banking practice (Public Act 100-0304)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law which amends the Currency Exchange Act, so that determination of rate schedules that can be charged for check cashing and writing of money orders by community currency exchanges takes into account the impact on consumers and whether the rate schedule will disproportionately impact anyone on the basis of any protected characteristic or category listed and defined in specified provisions of the Illinois Human Rights Act (Public Act 100-0704)

Public Recognition of Inspiring Leaders and Commemoration of Events

• Introduced and passed House Joint Resolution through both Houses which designates the portion of Cicero Avenue, beginning at Roosevelt Road and ending at West Grand Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as “Mandela Road” in honor of Nelson Mandela (HJR 0089, 98th GA); dedication of Mandela Road with signage in place on July 18, 2014, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, and host of annual celebrations on July 18 every year since

• Introduced and passed House Resolution and House Joint Resolution which designates the portion of Roosevelt Road from Cicero Avenue to Austin Avenue as “Muhammad Ali Road”, (HR 1317, 99th GA and HJR 46, 100th GA)

• Introduced and passed House Joint Resolution that designates Interstate 55 as it travels from the Tri-State Tollway to Pontiac as the “Barack Obama Presidential Expressway”, (HJR 0036, 100th GA)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law on 6-16-2021 (before Juneteenth was declared a National Holiday) which provides that Juneteenth National Freedom Day shall be observed on June 19 of each year as a holiday throughout the state (Public Acts 102-0014 and 102-0334)

• Introduced House Joint Resolution 0121 to designate a section of North Avenue in Chicago as the “Harriet Tubman Memorial Avenue”, pending

Other Legislation and Activities to Improve Community Life

• Secured funding to support libraries in Oak Park; the new Community Recreation Center in Oak Park; the Park District of La Grange Park, and many others

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law creating the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act, which makes it unlawful for any employer to ask any prospective employee to provider any user name, password or other related account information in order to gain access to a social networking website where that prospective employee maintains an account or profile (Public Act 097-0875)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law creating the Right to Privacy in the School Setting Act, which makes it unlawful for school officials to request of obtain from their students their social media passwords unless there is reasonable cause to believe that a student’s account on a social networking website contains evidence that the student has violated a school disciplinary rule or policy (Public Act 098-0129)

• Introduced legislation that became law establishing a Youth Budget Commission, which shall complete an analysis of enacted State budget items which directly impact adolescents (Public Act 100-0818)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law that requires metal recyclers to enter catalytic converters into a database to reduce catalytic converter theft (Public Act 102-0906)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law that prevents motorist from being stopped and searched on the basis of an object suspended from the rear-view mirror (Public Act 103-0032)

• Introduced House Bill 5508, 100th GA, creating the Access to Affordable, Permanent, and Supportive Housing and Services Act, to provide that a unit of local government may provide certain housing and supportive services upon a determination that a person experiencing homelessness is living in a public space, Session Sine Die

• Introduced House Resolution (HR 0610, 97th GA) urging support for the peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights by Occupy protesters – resolution lost on a House vote

• Authored and passed House Resolution designating November 13, 2014, as Random Acts of Kindness Day in Illinois (House Resolution 0900 – 98th GA)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution which commends the Boy Scouts of America on its character and its drive for equality for all Illinois families and encourages the utilization of the Boy Scouts as an important asset in improving communities during tough economic times (House Resolution 688, 99th GA)

• Urged the City of Chicago to place a moratorium on red light cameras, August 2014

• Held Town Hall Meeting on Adoption and Foster Care, August 2013

• Member, Board of Directors, Peace Corner, an after-school center for youth in Austin

• Supporter for the completion of Maze Library, Oak Park

• Partnered with Weinstein Meats and Gusto Packing to provide more than 500 Christmas Gifts at Leland Elementary School, December 15, 2011

• Hosted and arranged for more than 400 guests who saw a free community screening of the movie “Red Tails” – February 2012

• Hosted and arranged for more than 200 guests who saw a reduced rate community screening of the movie “The Butler” – September 2013

• Host for a community screening of the movie “Black Panther” – February 2018

• Host for a community screening and discussion of the movie “The Birth of a Nation” – June 2018

• Founding Committee Chairman in 2014 of Illinois State Troop 606 of the Boy Scouts for boys on the West Side of Chicago

• Vice President of Membership of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts Pathway to Adventure Council of Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana

• Co-Sponsor of Annual Back-To-School Throwdown, a musical celebration in Columbus Park, Chicago

• Hosted (in 2011 and 2012) more than 500 middle school students at Malcolm X College on February 1 to kick off Black History Month in a program called College is an Option, to learn about programs at the City Colleges of Chicago

• Panel Member, Loyola Youth Summit, June 2012

• Speaker at Berwyn Flag Day Celebration

• Parade Marshal and Speaker at 4th of July Parade, North Riverside

• Mentor at the Mikva Challenge, Chicago, 2016

ADVANCING CITIZENSHIP, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

A Leader in Criminal Justice Reform and in Issues affecting Returning Citizens/Ex-Offenders

• Introduced the State Employment Application Act (Ban the Box) stipulating that an application for state employment may not ask if the applicant had been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense; introduced in the 95th GA, passed bill through House and Senate, vetoed by the governor in 2007, veto not overridden; similar legislation introduced in the 96th, 97th and 98th General Assemblies; governor signed Administrative Order on October 3, 2013 accomplishing the intent of the legislation.

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which provides that an action to collect a debt arising from a violation of a municipal ordinance may not be filed more than 7 years after the date of adjudication (Public Act 0192)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which limits bail bond costs to $100 (in Chicago) when the accused is cleared of a crime or if charges are dropped, rather than the previously required 10% (Public Act 99-0412)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which provides that a person who drives while his or her driver’s license is suspended shall receive a Uniform Traffic Citation from the law enforcement officer, and that a person who receives 3 or more Uniform Traffic Citations without paying any fees associated with the citations shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor (Public Act 100-1004)

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law that requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to contain ethnic and racial background data and the person’s last known address in accordance with the No Representation without Population Act (Public Act 103-0018)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation which became law which provides educational grants at public community colleges or universities to persons who are exonerated of their charged crimes (Public Act 99-0199)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law which requires analysis of job retention for the Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program (Public Act 103-0198)

• Introduced and passed a House Resolution urging the governor and the Department of Corrections to discourage prosecutors from recommending and judges from sentencing low level drug offenders to the county jail or the Department of Corrections (HR163, 99th GA and HR5, 100th GA)

• Introduced legislation (HB 434, 102nd GA) that requires records of charges that result in an acquittal or dismissal with prejudice, with some exceptions, may be immediately expunged after the final disposition of the case, passed House

• Introduced HB 3564 in the 102nd GA which creates the Anthony Gay Law and creates the Isolated Confinement Restriction Act, providing that a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days, passed the House

• Introduced HB 350 in the 102nd GA which provides that before the court orders an assessment, the court shall make a determination of the defendant’s ability to pay the assessment, passed the House

• Introduced legislation suspending child support payments for those who are incarcerated, lost in the House (HB2330, 98th GA)

• Introduced legislation to delete the provision that the period of probation for a minor who is found to be guilty for an offense which is a forcible felony, other than first degree murder or a Class X felony, shall be at least 5 years (HB 3224, 98th GA) – lost in the House

• Introduced legislation so a person’s obligation to pay child support pursuant to a court or administrative order is suspended by operation of law during any period that the person is committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Juvenile Justice (HB 2330, 98th GA) – lost in the House

• Chaired hearings in August 2012 and April 2013 and Town Hall Meeting in March 2013 on Criminal Records Sealing Bill HB5723 and Ban the Box HB1210, both which have become law

• Organized and hosted A Second Chance Summit at UIC Forum in September 2013 attended by hundreds interested in learning how to seal their records according to Public Act 98-0142

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 361, 100th GA, which designates July 3, 2017, and July 3, 2018, as Illinois Citizens Re-entry Day, to be observed in recognition of Congressman Danny K. Davis’ work in helping to provide ex-offenders with a second chance and opportunity to re-enter society as productive citizens, and to encourage continuing support of such citizens as they re-enter their communities

• Hosted Summit of Hope event at By the Hand Club, Austin for returning citizens, June 27, 2018

• Gave seminar talk, “Restorative Justice in Illinois”, at the John Marshall Law School 23rd Belle R. & Joseph H. Braun Memorial Symposium, 2016

A Leader in Social Justice Issues

• Authored and passed House Resolution 468 (96th GA) with bipartisan sponsorship urging that social justice be the guiding principle in decision making in the House of Representatives

• Authored and passed House Resolution 95 (98th GA) with 108 votes which creates the Distressed Counties and Communities Task Force to find and create innovative means to address and meet the numerous needs of those who receive State social services and develop a legislative and administrative agenda that can serve as a national model for developing a successful anti-poverty agenda

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 48 (98th GA) which urges the governor to create a commission to confront the economic problems that still plague African-American communities

• Introduced and passed House Resolution HR 0909 (95th GA) which urges Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent

• Chief House Co-Sponsor of legislation that became law creating the Racial and Ethnic Impact Research Task Force to determine a practical method for the standardized collection and analysis of data on the racial and ethnic identity of arrestees by State and local law enforcement agencies (Public Act 097-0433)

• Chief House Sponsor of legislation that became law as the Criminal Identification Act that requires ethnic and racial data be gathered at many points when a person encounters the criminal justice system (Public Act 098-0528)

• Introduced legislation that became law designating each March 25 as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Public Act 096-0930)

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 264 (99th GA) which recognizes the Selma to Montgomery marches that were part of the 1965 Voting Rights Movement

• Introduced legislation that became law which gives the Department of Human Rights the power to coordinate with state (in addition to federal and local) agencies in conformity with the Illinois Human Rights Act (Public Act 099-0074)

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 396 (99th GA) that directs the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission review the current practice of restorative justice in juvenile justice systems in Illinois

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 1011 (99th GA) that requests President Obama to commission a study regarding the economic and social costs of slavery and a proposal for reparations to the descendants of slaves in America if such a proposal is recommended in the study itself

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 45 (100th GA) that requests President Trump to commission a study to detail the economic impact of the slave trade and the use of slave labor; and how Emancipation, while freeing them of their literal bonds, and ending an immoral practice, did not guarantee equality in education, employment, housing, and access to quality affordable health care; that this study also include an analysis for how reparations for past harms have benefited the ethnic groups that have received them during the course of American history; and a proposal for reparations to the descendants of slaves in America, and how those reparations can help overcome obstacles that still exist today in education, employment, housing, health care, and justice.

• Introduced and passed legislation that became law which provides that no employer may discriminate between employees by paying wages to an African-American employee at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to another employee who is not African-American for the same or substantially similar work on a job that requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility and is performed under similar working conditions (Public Act 100-1140)

• Introduced legislation (HB4087, 100th GA) that creates the Abolition of Confederate Symbols Act and provides that no public body shall display the Battle Flag of the Confederacy, otherwise known as the “Confederate Flag”, or any other similar image, on any public property or land in the State unless the flag or an image thereof appears in a book, digital medium, or museum, or is used to serve any other educational or historical purpose, Session Sine Die

• Chief Co-sponsor of legislation that became law that requires Illinois corporations to report on the representation of women and minorities on corporate boards (Public Act 101-0589)

• Introduced and passed House Resolutions (HR 390-101st GA and HR 13-102nd GA) which creates the Commission on the Social Status of Black Males to study the social conditions of black males, develop strategies to remedy or assist in remedying serious adversities, and make recommendations to improve the educational, social, economic, and employment opportunities of black males.

• Introduced and passes House Resolution 449 (101st GA) which commemorates the 100th anniversary of and mourns the loss of life and the loss of the black economy of Tulsa, Oklahoma that took place on May 31 and June 1, 1921.

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law which makes changes to the definition of “Social Equity Justice Involved Applicant” in the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Program Act, working to create equity and opportunities in the cannabis industry (Public Act 102-0098)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law which allows the Illinois Department of Agriculture to change the cannabis licensing process to reduce or eliminate barriers and remedy discrimination identified in a study by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer (Public Act 103-0578)

• Introduced and passed legislation which became law which aims to decrease homelessness by stating a landlord shall not apply an income or asset requirement to a tenant with a non-wage source of income that the landlord does not apply to all tenants (Public Act 102-0896)

• Introduced HB 1288 (104th GA) which states a person convicted of a felony, after the completion of his or her sentence, including the completion of his or her parole or mandatory supervised release term, shall be eligible to be nominated for, and elected to, an elective public office, in Rules

A Leader in Civic Issues – Protecting our Right to Vote

• Introduced and passed House Resolution 0909 (93rd GA) which urges Congress to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make all its provisions permanent

• Introduced and passed House Joint Resolution 0076 (99th GA) which supports amending the United States Constitution to explicitly guarantee an individual’s right to vote

• Introduced legislation that became law stating the State of Illinois ratifies the agreement among the states to elect the President by National Popular Vote, to ensure that the candidate with the most votes is elected President of the United States (Public Act 095-0714)

• Introduced House Resolution 0694 (99th GA) designating September 22 as Voter Registration Day in the state of Illinois, in committee

• Alternate Chief House Co-sponsor of legislation which became law that allows on-line voter registration (Public Act 099-0221)

• Chief Co-Sponsor of House Joint Resolution which passed both Houses which proposes to amend the Suffrage and Elections Article of the Constitution and provides that no person shall be denied the right to register to vote or to cast a ballot in an election based on race, color, ethnicity, status as a member of a language minority, sex, sexual orientation, income, national origin or religion (Ford introduced HJRCA0039 which later became HJRCA0052, 98th GA)

• Chief House Sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 0029 (99th GA) which was passed establishing a Complete Count Commission to ensure an accurate count in the 2020 census

• Introduced the Prisoner Census Adjustment Act in the 97th GA (HB 94 – introduced 1-6-2011) and again in the 98th GA (HB 62) proposing that for purposes of creating election districts and redistricting, requires that State and local governmental bodies use census figures adjusted to reflect the pre-incarceration addresses of persons imprisoned in State or federal facilities in Illinois; passed the House, and reintroduced House Bill which creates the No Representation Without Population Act, directing the Illinois Department of Corrections to collect a record of the legal home residence, outside of the facility, with the aim of having the person counted in the Census as a resident of their home address rather than at the prison address, passed Committee, not brought up for vote in House (HB1489, 99th General Assembly), and then passed legislation to end prison gerrymandering as part of SAFE-T Act (Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity – Today) Act, incorporating the No Representation Without Population Act, which provides for a process of using prison inmates’ most recent known address prior to incarceration for purposes of redistricting legislative districts (Public Act 101-0652)

• Introduced HB 1872 in the 102nd GA which repeals provisions that prohibit a person that is serving a sentence of confinement in any penal institution from voting until his or her release from confinement, re-referred to Rules

• Conducted Redistricting Bootcamp as legislative boundaries were redrawn based on the 2010 Census, working with the Lawndale Alliance, other community-based organizations and other elected officials

• Introduced a House Bill which provides that a person is not prohibited from photographing his or her own ballot at any time during the voting process, but a person who buys or sells their vote based on a photograph is guilty of a Class 4 felony (HB0431, 99th General Assembly)

• Introduced legislation creating a mechanism to recall the mayor of the City of Chicago (HB4356, 99th General Assembly, and in General Assemblies since)

Legislative Committees

In the 104th General Assembly, Ford serves as Chair of Appropriations-Higher Education and member of these legislative committees: Gaming; Labor & Commerce; Mental Health & Addiction; Museum, Arts, Culture, & Entertainment; and Occupational Licenses Subcommittee.

Ford has been Chair of the Restorative Justice Committee, and Chair of the Financial Institutions Committee. He has been a member of the House Committees on: Appropriations-Elementary & Secondary Education, Appropriations-Human Services, Higher Education, Insurance-Property & Casualty, Social Change Sub-committee, Tourism, Hospitality and Craft, and Veterans’ Affairs, Chair of the Small Business Empowerment & Workforce Development Committee, Chair of the Foreclosure Subcommittee, Financial Institutions, Personnel & Pensions, Public Utilities House Committees and also the Chair of the Eighth District Education Oversight Subcommittee.

Ford has had assignments in the Illinois House of Representatives Committees of Health Care Licenses; Tollway Oversight (Vice-Chairperson); Adoption Reform, Appropriations for Elementary and Secondary Education, Computer Technology, Disparities in Educational Achievement, Elections and Campaign Reform, Local Government, Pension Funds Management, Access to Federal Funding, Finance, Insurance, Juvenile Justice Reform, Revenue and Finance, Youth and Family, Health and Healthcare Disparities, Health Exchanges Subcommittee, Higher Education, Housing, Insurance, Tollway Oversight, Appropriations-General Service, Economic Development & Housing; Health Care Availability Access (Vice-Chairman); International Trade and Commerce; and Tourism and Conventions.

Ford is also the Chair of the House Democratic Task Force to Increase State Government Business Opportunities for Minority-Owned Enterprises and Small Businesses, Chair of the Firearm Public Awareness Task Force, is a member of the Bipartisan Task Force to Promote Economic and Workforce Development and is a member of the Illinois Violence Prevention Task Force.

Foreign Meetings and Lectures

Ford has traveled to give lectures and meet with government and university officials in countries as diverse as United Kingdom, Cuba, Mexico, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania, India, and Romania.

Community Service and Boards of Directors

Ford follows his natural instincts to get involved and is a leader in community affairs to create environments where organizations and communities can become more vibrant. He is the Founding Committee Chairman of Illinois State Troop 606 of the Boy Scouts in the Pathway to Adventure Council; was elected as Community Representative on the Local School Council (LSC) of George Rogers Clark Elementary School in the South Austin Community in 2014; and serves on many Boards of Directors, including the Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board for a Children’s Museum in Austin, Peace Corner, Fathers Who Care, the External Advisory Board for Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC), and is Vice President of Membership of the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts Pathway to Adventure Council of Northeast Illinois and Northwest Indiana.

Awards and Recognition

Ford has received numerous awards for his work in the Eighth District. Recognition of his contributions including:

• Austin Business Owner of the Year Award

• Archdiocese of Chicago “Christifideles” and “Augustus Tolton” awards

• Chicago Association of Realtors “Outstanding Achievement” and “Excellence in Performance” awards

• “Outstanding Community Service” Certificate awarded by State Senator Don Harmon in collaboration with the Changing a Generation Foundation

• Certificate of Appreciation from the Austin Community South Austin Coalition

• Certificate of Appreciation from Ashunti Residential Management System Inc.

• Honors from the Youth Connection Charter School

• The Vernon Jarrett Legislative Award from Dearborn Realtist Board

• The Legendary Leaders Award from Circle Family Healthcare Network

• Special Honors from Child Serv

• Austin Senior Leadership Class Award

• Principal for a Day at Spencer Math and Science Academy and George Rogers Clark Elementary School

• Safer Foundation Carre Visionary Award

• Illinois Farm Bureau Activator Friend of Agriculture award

• Austin Community Academy High School Black History Month Career Day award

• Illinois Council on Economic Education Certificate of Appreciation

• Quality Care Champion Award from SEIU Local 880

• 2008 Fleur-de-lis Program Service Award for Advocacy & Awareness presented by the Lupus Foundation of America–Illinois Chapter, Inc

• One of Chicago’s Top 40 Game Changers in 2010 by the Urban Business Roundtable

• 2010 Friend of Agriculture Award from the Illinois Agricultural Association and the Illinois Farm Bureau

• 2010 Legislator of the Year by Thrive Counseling Center, Oak Park

• 2011 Small Business Advocate Award by Small Business Advocacy Council

• 2011 Award of Recognition for Expanding Opportunities for Employment from the Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities

• 2012 Legislator of the Year, Illinois Department of Human Rights and Interagency Committee on Employees with Disabilities

• 2012 Outstanding Legislator Award, Chicago Westside Branch, NAACP

• 2012 Wal-Mart West Side Community Builders Award for Outstanding Public Service

• 2012 “Saving Lives” Legislative Award, from the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy and the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs, Roosevelt University

• Millennium Builder’s Award 2012 from the Suburban Minority Contractors Association of the greater Chicago Area

• Special Award of 2012 from Circle Family HealthCare Network

• Etiquette Foundation of Illinois Distinguished Service Award, Political Leader of 2012

• Community Renewal Society Public Servant Lighthouse Award, 2013

• Westside Health Authority Every Block A Village 2014 Legacy Award

• Illinois State Alliance of YMCAs – 2014 Legislative Hero Award

• Generation Moms 2014 Impact Award

• L.E.A.D.E.R.’s Network (Leaders for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Disaster Relief Network) Award, 2014

• Patriotic Employer Award from the Illinois Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an office of the Department of Defense, in recognition of his extraordinary support of a member of his staff

• Honor of Recognition at Simeon Career Academy High School Blue and Gold Extravaganza for work done to the save the Electrical Training Program at Simeon High School, 2014

• Chicago Defender 2015 Men Of Excellence Honoree

• 2015 Candidate for Induction, The National Civil Rights Library Hall of Fame

• 2015 Making a Difference Man of the Year – Chicago Westside NAACP

• 2015 AIDS Foundation of Chicago Innovation Award for HIV Policy and Legislation, as leader and organizer of the HIV Community Collaboration

• 2016 Award of Achievement from Pathfinders Prevention Education Fund, for Legislative Leadership in expanding Testing and Funding for HIV

• 2018 Nelson Mandela Award for Justice, from Westside Health Authority, in recognition of tireless service and outstanding contributions in fostering peace and fighting for justice on the West Side of Chicago

• 2018 Class of the Edgar Fellows Program, Institute of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois

• 2019 Arthur L. Turner Leadership Award – Affordable Housing Champion Award; from the Illinois Housing Development Authority

• 2019 Pathfinders Prevention Education Fund Community Empowerment Award, for Saving Lives by Forming the West Side Opioid Task Force

• 2022 Prevention Partnership Award

• 2025 Chicago News Weekly Impact Honoree

• 2025 City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Black Learner Excellence Civic Leader Award

• 2025 Chicago Wall of Fame Bridging the Gap Honoree