Jen Dean

Background

About Jen Dean

I am a dedicated community organizer in Chicago, currently serving as Co-Executive Director at Chicago Votes. In this role, I have led initiatives to draft and advocate for legislation aimed at ending felony disenfranchisement and expanding voting rights within the carceral system. My primary focus is on protecting and enhancing voting rights through extensive civic programming and legislative initiatives inside jails and prisons. The successes of the Unlock Civics program have sparked a world wide movement to safeguard civil and voting rights for incarcerated individuals, expanding to over 40 detention facilities since 2018. Notably, I co-drafted SB2090, which designates Cook County Jail as the nation’s first official polling location within a jail. Another significant achievement is the passage of the “Re-entering Citizen’s Civics Education Act,” which mandates that individuals leaving prison receive three 90-minute peer-taught civics classes. This curriculum, which we developed, ensures that people understand their voting rights, the history of voting, and receive a voter registration form. In addition to my work with Chicago Votes, I have collaborated with various organizations on initiatives such as cannabis legalization, reducing stop-and-frisk practices (The STOP Act),#ByeAnita, Say Her Name, and the Fight for 15. I also served on the boards of Parole Illinois, Chasing23, and Bring Your Bag Chicago. I have been honored with two major awards: MTV’s “Leader for Change” and the Barbara Jordan Award for excellence in judicial advocacy and education from Judicial Accountability PAC. Currently, I am focused on enhancing judicial diversity through the creation and distribution of judicial voter guides each election cycle and launching a new court-watching program at Chicago Votes. I also serve as a Brand Ambassador for the Hawega Foundation, working to combat female genital mutilation within the Datooga tribe by empowering girls through education and community support. Additionally, I am a board member of the Malik Alim Foundation, which supports youth leadership development programs. My ultimate goal is to build global networks of organizers, fostering social capital within movement spaces and driving impactful change.