Chicago Public, Civic and Business Leaders Chosen for Prestigious Edgar Fellows Program

CHICAGO — Chicago's next generation of civic and public policy leaders will be strongly represented in the 2026 Edgar Fellows Program, with more than a dozen leaders from the city selected to participate in one of Illinois' premier bipartisan leadership initiatives.

The Chicago-area participants include state legislators, aldermen, senior state government officials, labor leaders, nonprofit executives and business representatives whose work spans transportation, healthcare, education, government affairs, economic development and public safety. Together, they represent the broad cross-section of leadership the Edgar Fellows Program has cultivated since its founding by the late Gov. Jim Edgar in 2012.

Chicago members of the 2026 class include Oswaldo Alvarez, Peter Chico, Jessica L. Fuentes, Gia Biagi, Emily Goldman, Earl Grandberry, Grace Hong Duffin, Rep. Lisa Davis, Rep. Kimberly du Buclet, Sen. Willie Preston, Michael Mahoney, Samantha McClain, Crystal Olsen, Sean Rapelyea, Carlos Rivas Jr., Marcus Jordan and Judith Soto.

The Executive Leadership Training Program will take place Aug. 2-6 at the University of Illinois' I-Hotel and Conference Center in Urbana-Champaign. During the week, Fellows will explore major public policy issues including Illinois' electric capacity, artificial intelligence, workforce development, criminal justice, Medicaid, proposed data centers and the state budget. Just as importantly, participants will spend the week learning directly from one another while developing professional relationships designed to last throughout their careers.

That emphasis on bringing together leaders from different backgrounds has remained the defining characteristic of the Edgar Fellows Program.

Former Congressman and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Distinguished Director of the program, said:

"It was Jim Edgar's goal to bring together up-and-coming leaders with different backgrounds and politics from across Illinois. Governor Edgar's vision continues to provide unique leadership training for Illinois' future leaders."

For Chicago participants, the experience provides an opportunity to exchange ideas with leaders from every region of Illinois—from rural county officials and suburban mayors to state legislators, nonprofit executives and private-sector innovators. Those conversations often become the foundation for future collaborations on issues affecting communities throughout the state.

Governor Edgar frequently pointed to those relationships as the true measure of the program's success.

"With each class, it has been gratifying to watch people who were strangers on Sunday become good friends by Thursday. It's what the Edgar Fellows program is all about, finding common ground and respect, so that our Fellows can work together to help shape a better Illinois."

With the addition of the 2026 class, the Edgar Fellows network will include nearly 550 alumni representing every corner of Illinois and virtually every sector of public life.

2026 Edgar Fellows Class

• Mary Alexander-Basta, Mayor of Bolingbrook
• Diana Alfaro, Elgin Council Member and Latinx Business Development Manager, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
• Jennifer Allison, Peoria County Board Member
• Oswaldo Alvarez, Executive Director, Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
• Cohen Barnes, Mayor of DeKalb
• Gia Biagi, Secretary, Illinois Department of Transportation
• Kari Bush, Chair, Stark County Board of Supervisors
• Rob Carney, Manager of State Government Affairs-Midwest Region, Caterpillar
• Peter Chico, Chicago Alderman, 10th Ward
• Tameeka Christian, Director, Pritzker Community Health Initiative
• James Clayton, President and CEO, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
• Cindy Cronin Cahill, DuPage County Board Member
• Rep. Lisa Davis
• Rep. Margaret DeLaRosa
• Rep. Kimberly du Buclet
• Andrew Erbes, Vice Chairman, Jackson County Board
• Jonathan Feipel, Executive Director, Illinois Commerce Commission
• Ald. Jessica L. Fuentes
• Emily Goldman, First Assistant Deputy Governor for Education
• Earl Grandberry, Director of National Bridgebuilding Initiatives, Interfaith America
• Robyn Heffern, Vermilion County Clerk
• Dan Hohl, Illinois State Medical Society
• Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast
• Clint Hull, Mayor of St. Charles
• Gregg Jeffords, Mayor of Metropolis
• Rep. Gregg Johnson
• Marcus Jordan, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting
• Sen. Patrick Joyce
• Michael Mahoney, Chief of Staff to the Will County Executive
• Samantha McClain, Chief of Staff, Illinois AFL-CIO
• Linda K. Moore, Mayor of Quincy
• Lauren Neill, T-Mobile
• Crystal Olsen, Advocate Health
• Sen. Willie Preston
• Sean Rapelyea, Office of Gov. JB Pritzker
• Carlos Rivas Jr., Civilian Office of Police Accountability/Chicago Board of Education
• Tim Ruestman, Candidate for State Representative, District 105
• Judith Soto, AbbVie
• Sen. Rachel Ventura
• Jason Warfel, Chair, Jasper County Board
• Tiffany White, Executive Director, The Dirksen Congressional Center.