Obama
News Releases
Barack Obama is the Illinois State Senator for the 13th
District on Chicagos South Side. He was overwhelmingly
elected to a third term in office in 2002. He serves on
three State Senate committees: Health and Human Services,
Judiciary and Local Government. He is the Chairman of
the Health and Human Services Committee.
Working with Senator Paul Simon in 1998, Obama was one
of only four legislators who crafted and passed Illinois
toughest-ever campaign finance reform law. He also played
a key role in landmark welfare reform legislation in 1997
that empowers many Illinoisans to go into the workforce.
Obama received his BA in Political Science from Columbia
University. He spent five years working as a community
organizer, first in Harlem, then in Chicago.
In 1988, Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School. There
he served as the first African-American president of the
Harvard Law Review and was a member of the Executive Board
of the Black Law Students Association. He graduated Magna
Cum Laude.
In 1992, Obama served as Illinois Executive Director
of PROJECT VOTE!, an effort that added over 100,000 newly
registered voters in Illinois.
In 1993, Obama was named by Crains Chicago Business
as one of 40 under 40 outstanding young leaders
in the city of Chicago. He is the recipient of the 1995
Legal Eagle Award from IVI-IPO for his work in bringing
Illinois into compliance with the National Voter Registration
Act (Motor-Voter). His commentaries have been heard on
National Public Radio and his memoir Dreams of My Father
was published by Random House in August 1995.
Obama works as a civil rights attorney with the firm
Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Galland. He specializes in
employment discrimination, fair housing and voting rights
litigation. He also lectures at the University of Chicago,
where he teaches civil rights law and related subjects.
In addition, Obama serves on the boards of several organizations
including: the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (Chairman),
the Joyce Foundation, the Woods Fund of Chicago, the Center
for Neighborhood Technology, the Chicago Lawyers Committee
for Civil Rights Under the Law, and Public Allies. He
is a member of the Cook County Bar Association.
Senator Obama is married to Michelle Obama and they have
two daughters, Malia Ann Obama and Natasha Obama.
Senator
Barack Obama
13th District Senate Office
1013 East 53rd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60615
Office Phone: (773)
363-1996
Email: obama@senatedem.state.il.us |
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Illinois State
Capitol |
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Springfield Capitol Office:
Room
M114
Capitol Building
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Office Phone: (217) 782-5338 |
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