BIOGRAPHY
Will most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. In that capacity Will has developed legislation for the Senate Democratic Caucus on issues ranging from criminal justice, consumer protection, education, minority business development, and ethics reform.
Prior to working for Senate President Emil Jones, Will was the vice president of program and field offices of the Chicago Urban League where he spearheaded the Chicago Urban League's voting rights/redistricting efforts, managed the League's day-to-day programmatic activities, and coordinated the League's public policy initiatives.
Before joining the League, Will was education and tax policy manager for the Metropolitan Planning Council where he organized a statewide education funding reform coalition and directed its legislative and communications campaign.
Will has also served in a number of political and governmental capacities including: deputy campaign manager for Obama for Congress 2000, campaign coordinator for the Illinois Democratic Party, senior advisor and legislative analyst in the Office of Illinois Senate Minority Leader Emil Jones Jr., and as a community outreach coordinator for State Senator Barack Obama.
Will's commitment to social justice and civic engagement is demonstrated through participation on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations such as the Lugenia Burns Hope Center, Mikva Challenge, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, the Blue Gargoyle Youth Service Center and the South East Chicago Commission.
In 2001 Will was named an American Marshall Memorial Fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
He attended the University of Chicago where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees.
Will is married to Robin N. Black and they have an infant daughter Athena and live in Hyde Park.