Joel Government service leader Veterans problem solver Workforce innovator

Age: 33

Title: Committee Director and Legislative Counsel, Committee on Economic, Capital and Technology Development

Organization: City of Chicago

Dedicated to purpose-driven collaboration, Ashley Álvarez centers her life’s work on strengthening the relationship between community and government through advocacy that advances equity, opportunity, and accountability to create sustainable change.

Álvarez is a first-generation Cuban and Puerto Rican daughter and granddaughter of immigrants. Born in Maywood, she was raised in many Chicago neighborhoods but was shaped by Sunday dinners at El Prado (her abuelos’ Cuban restaurant), and summers in Are- cibo eating tembleque made by her abuelita and sitting with her abuelo en el balcón.

At age 11, Álvarez knew she wanted to be an attorney after witnessing her father’s long battle for custody. Within her first month at California Western School of Law, Álvarez applied to work with the California Innocence Project. There she united with a team that successfully reversed a wrongful conviction. Later she moved to the Public Defender’s Office where she realized the power of legislation.

Currently Álvarez is the committee director and legislative counsel for the city of Chicago Committee on Economic, Capital, and Technology Development. She oversees operations, legislation, team management, external affairs, and communications.

Edgar Candelas

Age: 36

Title: Founder

Organization: Chicago Veterans

Kevin Barszcz is a nonprofit executive with over a decade of experience in the social services sector helping scale nonprofits for growth. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and the founder of Chicago Veterans, a nonprofit organization helping veterans build their social support network to increase access to services and earned benefits.

Barszcz is the current president of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County and a recovery project manager focused on homelessness support services in the Chicago mayor’s office. Prior to working in the mayor’s office, he launched Habitat for Humanity’s veterans program creating, partnerships at federal and state levels to help veterans move from homelessness to homeownership.

Barszcz is a Chicago native and proud alumnus of Chicago Public Schools where he graduated from Carl Schurz High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from DePaul University and an electrical journeyman’s degree from the United Services Military Apprenticeship Program.

Barszcz is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Polish descent and is the greatgrandson of Enrique Ugartechea, el primer luchador Mexicano.