ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Litesa Wallace is a three-term former State Representative and advocate whose exacting and clear-eyed approach to policy and bipartisan progress has reformed Illinois government, advanced important equities and built an impressive track record of collaborative innovation and victories for her clients and constituents.
Known as one of Springfield’s most knowledgeable legislators during her terms, from 2014 to 2019, she was able to introduce and pass scores of bills that gained broad support and buy-in and were signed by the governor of the opposing party.
And as an expert consultant and top energy lobbyist, Rep. Wallace in 2021 led and executed a nimble underdog campaign that broke a four-decade stalemate to end energy poverty for one impoverished Illinois community.
Dr. Wallace’s granular knowledge of policy and policy-making drove her victories to expand mental healthcare access, sustain the River’s Edge Historic Tax Credit, eliminate the so-called “Gay Panic” defense, and pass the historic Learning With Dignity Act.
After quickly earning the respect of her colleagues upon her entry into the chamber, she helped originate and chair the Illinois House Economic Justice and Equality Committee and served as Vice Chair of the House Human Services Committee as well as the Business Growth & Incentives Committee.
Previous to her service in Springfield, which included three years as chief of staff to former Rep. Charles Jefferson, whom she succeeded as the first Black woman to represent the 67th District, Rep. Wallace was an educator and human services professional, earning a B.A. from Western Illinois University and an M.S. in Applied Family and Child Studies with a Specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as Ed.D. in educational psychology from Northern Illinois University.
Rep. Wallace was recruited to run statewide for lieutenant governor in 2018 and, more recently, ran a groundbreaking grassroots campaign for Congress in Illinois’ 17th District.
A native of Chicagoland, she currently resides in Rockford with her son, and a child she has fostered.
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