James Mendez
James Mendez lives in Chicago, Illinois. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and then went on to receive a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University.
James has a passion for local politics, social justice advocacy and using his talents to best serve his community. In his free time, James volunteers as a mentor with iMentor, where he mentors high school students at Chicago Military Academy in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood. He has also served as both Treasurer and Financial Secretary of the Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League, and he is a proud and active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Additionally, he has served as an advisor and volunteer on various political and advocacy campaigns throughout the state of Illinois.
Professionally, James works as an Account Supervisor at Culloton + Bauer Luce, a Chicago-based public affairs firm specializing in corporate reputation, issues management and crisis communications. Earlier, Mendez was a policy analyst for the Chicago City Treasurers Kurt Summers and Melissa Conyears-Ervin. At the Treasurer’s office, he helped pave the way for equitable and accessible financial programs in underserved communities. Before that, he worked in Springfield, Illinois for the Office of the Illinois State Senate President, where he specialized in higher education legislation, along with being tasked with providing budget analyses for multiple state agencies.