Born and raised in Chicago, Willie Preston is currently the State Senator for Illinois 16th District, residing in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

Preston comes from humble beginnings working as a union carpenter before furthering his education at Chicago State University and Roosevelt University. Wanting to have a seat at the table in the decisions that were affecting the resources and opportunities in his community, he worked to better Illinois well before being elected to the State Senate.

He not only served on the board of the Chicagoland YMCA’s early childhood education program, and the Local School Council at Scott Joplin Elementary as a community and parent representative, but also was an organizer of the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability.

When he is not fighting for a better tomorrow for residents on the Southwest side of Chicago and Western Suburbs, he is running and operating his construction firm.

Preston is also a devoted husband, father, and community leader.