H.O.M.E. Welcomes First Director of Advocacy & Neighborhood Engagement

H.O.M.E. is thrilled to welcome Alizandra (Ali) Medina as its first Director of Advocacy and Neighborhood Engagement. In this role, she will leverage her expertise in building cross-sector partnerships and organizing statewide coalitions, skills that will serve her well as she leads the Fix Our Homes Illinois coalition, supports H.O.M.E.’s Community Advisory Council, and ensures that older Chicagoans have a strong voice in policy issues that affect their lives. With this new position, H.O.M.E. aims to improve individual lives and make systems more just.

Ali is a public health professional with eight years of experience in advocating for aging equity and the right of older adults to live and age well in their homes and communities of choice. She is especially passionate about ensuring that low-income and disadvantaged communities have equitable access to the resources they need to thrive as they age.

An alum of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ali began her career with Oak Street Health, helping bridge gaps in access to quality care and resources for older adults in low-income communities. Most recently, with Health & Medicine Policy Research Group, Ali focused on engaging community partners to expand a cross-sector coalition advocating for aging equity through the state-wide Illinois Aging Together campaign. She played a key role in advancing efforts that led to an executive order establishing a Multi-sector Plan on Aging in Illinois. Her advocacy and organizing approach centers the voices of historically and currently excluded communities, ensuring their experiences shape coalition goals and successes.

Born and raised in South Chicago, Ali’s early experiences inspired her lifelong commitment to advocating for low-income communities. Outside of work, Ali enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. You can often find her going on walks and bike rides, or trying out new TikTok recipes. She is a proud Mexican-American who loves traveling to Mexico every year to visit family.

Welcome to H.O.M.E., Ali!