Staff
Lynda DeLaforgue, Co-Director
William McNary, Co-Director
Hannah Lehman, Administrative Director
Claire Serdiuk, Political Director
John Gaudette, Organizing Director
Emily Stuart, Organizer, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans
Jonathan Doster, Organizer
Delores Travis, Office Manager
Lynda has over 22 years of experience working in the public interest. In 1997, she became Associate Director of Citizen Action/Illinois. From 1998 to 2000, she served as Executive Director of the national food safety group, Safe Tables Our Priority. In 2000, she became Co-Director of the organization. Ms. DeLaforgue was a founding board member of the Healthy Schools Campaign. She earned a B.F.A. from Rockford College.
Email: lynda@citizenaction-il.org
William has worked for the public interest for 20 years. He has worked as a lobbyist on behalf of the public interest in both the Illinois General Assembly and in the United States Congress. In 2000, he became Co-Director of the organization. Mr. McNary serves as a board member for Public Campaign, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, and Women's Voices Women Vote. In 1999, he was elected as the president of USAction, the largest national coalition of progressive organizations. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Iowa.
Email: mcnary@citizenaction-il.org
Hannah Lehman
Administrative Director
Hannah began her work with Citizen Action/Illinois in February 2005. Her responsibilities include financial, personnel, and operations management for the organization. She received her B.A. in Political Science and Communication Studies from the University of Iowa.
Email: hannah@citizenaction-il.org
Claire Serdiuk
Political Director
Claire joined the staff of Citizen Action/Illinois in February 2007. Claire has a decade of experience working throughout the country in local and national political campaigns and offices of elected officials. Claire graduated Suma Cum Laude from Loyola University in Chicago.
Email: claire@citizenaction-il.org
John Gaudette
Organizing Director
John joined Citizen Action/Illinois in September 2008 as the Illinois Director of the Health Care for America Now! campaign. He has 12 years experience as a community organizer with the PICO and NTIC networks working with low- and moderate-income residents to address community issues, such as community policing, school reform, and economic development, nine of those as a director. Also, John worked as an engineer in the electronics industry, legislative director for the Illinois Environmental Council, and consumer advocate with Illinois Public Interest Research Group. Finally, John worked with Moveon.org PAC as lead organizer during the 2004 and 2006 elections in Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin.
Email: john@citizenaction-il.org
Emily Stuart
Organizer, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans
Emily began work as the organizer for the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans in April 2010. Previously, she served as an organizer for Citizen Action/Illinois and worked for the U.S. Student Association. Emily received her B.A. from Western Michigan University.
Email: illinoisara@gmail.com
Jonathan Doster
Organizer
Jonathan is currently organizing the Illinois Campaign to Clean Up Diesel Pollution. He comes to Citizen Action/Illinois with a background in both electoral and issue organizing, working for such organizations as the U.S. Student Association, the Midwest Academy, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Jonathan received his B.A. from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.
Email: jonathan@citizenaction-il.org
During her tenure at Citizen Action/Illinois, Delores has worked as a receptionist, assistant administrative director/event planner, liaison to the board of directors and policy council members, and currently as office manager. Delores volunteers as a tutor, young women's mentor, and deputy voter registrar. Delores has attended both Kennedy King College and Olive Harvey College, and has enough credits to have her Associates Degree in Child Development.
Email: delores@citizenaction-il.org
Latest
Senior citizens, disabled Americans, and concerned citizens from Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Illinois Main Street Alliance, Access Living, SEIU and Citizen Action/Illinois came together to protest Representative Paul Ryan's plan to privatize Social Security.