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Illinois House
5745 West Midway Park Chicago, IL 60644 Campaign Contributions: ISBE Disclosure Reports Deborah L. Graham, State Representative of Illinois' 78th District, was born and raised on the west side of Chicago and has devoted most of her life to community service. Deborah's commitment to community affairs dates back to her youth, when she volunteered with her grandmother through her church to help feed the homeless and coordinate services and activities for seniors. Since 1995, she has been a leader in the Austin neighborhood, earning the respect of her peers as well as local and state politicians. Deborah has accomplished much for the community during her professional career. As a Senior Case Manager she oversaw the Shelter Plus Care housing program of the Inner Voice, a program designed to encourage self-sufficiency among homeless Chicago residents. She provided housing, job placement, childcare and tutoring services for 40 families. Deborah often personally recruited families from the streets and worked with other community agencies to provide the best solution for each family, and under her leadership, the program had an 87% retention rate. She also managed the program's $365,000 budget. Deborah was an active board member for Community Action Council, an organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in Chicago's Austin neighborhood by creating jobs and providing programs for all Austin residents. She created and managed programs for seniors and youth for the Council, and has secured more the $95,000 in grants to support those programs. Deborah is currently a Coordinator of Special projects for the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development. Previously, as a Relocation Specialist for the City of Chicago and a proud AFSCME member, she was responsible for relocating individuals and businesses displaced as a result of new development. Deborah holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris College. She has two daughters and is a member of Truth and Deliverance Christian Church in Chicago. Campaign Contributions: ISBE Disclosure Reports E-mail this article to a friend | Printer friendly format |