Elections 2024 Welcomes Illinois State Representative

Seniors in the Elections 2024 class are no strangers to visitors at this point in the semester, however, they received a special treat recently when Illinois State District 12 Representative Margaret Croke visited campus.

Before being elected to Illinois’ legislative body, Croke served as deputy chief of staff for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. She then worked for Governor JB Pritzker’s transition team and was the statewide women’s outreach director for Pritzker’s gubernatorial campaign. In 2019, she began her own campaign to join the Illinois House of Representatives, which culminated in her taking office in January 2021.

During her time with the class, Croke spoke passionately and in great detail about her experiences. She explained how a bill becomes a law in Illinois’ legislative process, the role elected officials play in that process and the ways everyday citizens can participate, and, finally, she gave tips to the seniors on effective ways to communicate with various elected officials. She shared, “Do your homework, be upfront with your ask, and be organized!”

Croke’s advice and her willingness to speak honestly about her firsthand experience resonated with the seniors. Parker is truly grateful to Representative Croke for visiting campus and talking to these budding global citizens. 

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