About the Candidate
Name: Michael Scott Jr.
DOB: Dec. 24, 1975
Family: Father of three, Morgan, Nicholas and Michael III, husband to Natashee Scott
Occupation: Alderman of the 24th Ward
Political Experience: Elected in 2015, I am currently serving my first term as Alderman of the 24th Ward. As a native of the North Lawndale neighborhood, I have focused my energies on building an exceptional West Side. Over the past four years, I have worked towards this goal by bringing hundreds of affordable housing units and good paying jobs to our community while working to improve the overall quality of life for our residents.
Being civically engaged was engrained in me at a very early age. Through my parents, the late Michael, Sr. and Millicent Scott, both prominent leaders in the city of Chicago, I was raised into a legacy of building a strong family and successful communities.
A community advocate and public servant, I worked for the Chicago Park District for 12 years prior to taking office. Throughout my tenure with the Chicago Park District, I served as the Park Supervisor at the Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center and the Area Manager for the Central Region.
Website: aldermanscott.com
Candidate Statement
Hello, I am Michael Scott Jr., a lifelong resident of North Lawndale, husband, father of three, community advocate and current Alderman of the 24th Ward. I am running for reelection to continue the important work to bring more affordable housing, create jobs and economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in North Lawndale and all of Chicago’s West Side.
Growing up, I was taught the importance of giving back to my community. That is why I have dedicated my life to being a public servant.
As a community advocate and your Alderman, I am committed to ensuring that the 24th Ward becomes both an economic engine for the City and the best place to live, work and raise a family. That is why I have brought hundreds of units of affordable housing to our ward, many new jobs and businesses, millions dollars in renovations in our Library and Parks, and new cameras to help prevent illegal dumping in our community.
I truly believe in listening to the residents of our community and working side by side with the people and organizations who make up the 24th Ward. That is why I hold Ward meetings three times a month where I get to hear directly from you. I have also worked closely with organizations like the North Lawndale Employment Network to reduce unemployment and recidivism in our ward. I also support job-training programs like READY and the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, a group of concerned stakeholders where together we create a comprehensive development plan for North Lawndale the first of its kind in 50 years. Additionally, alongside the North Lawndale Restorative Justice Hub, we created the city’s first and only restorative justice court.
I also believe that it’s not where you live, it’s how you live. Keeping our community safe has been a top priority for me. I work hand-in-hand with the community and our local police district to hold community clean up’s, outdoor police roll calls, block club events and community smoke outs.
We have accomplished a lot in the past four years but there’ still more work to be done. I am incredibly proud to be your Alderman and represent Chicago’s West Side. I hope you’ll join me in the important work to continue to move our community forward.
Candidate Q&A
What is your vision for this office?
My vision is to make the 24th Ward one of the best communities in our city to live, work and raise a family. North Lawndale has an incredibly rich history as part of the Civil Rights movement and was once home to much of the city’s booming industry. My vision is to build upon the community’s rich history to create a North Lawndale that suits the needs of today’s residents. People want and need access to high quality educational options, good jobs, excellent health care and affordable housing in their communities and I am committed to making sure our residents are no exception. I strongly believe that together, we can continue to build a North Lawndale for the next generation.
What is the most pressing issue facing constituents, and how can you help address it?
For our community, one of the most pressing issues is access to jobs and all of the positive things that come along with the dignity and security of stable employment. I strongly believe that you are less likely to pick up a gun or engage in other criminal activity if you have a reliable job that pays you a living wage. That is why I have worked to bring many new jobs including hundreds of part-time and full-time construction jobs as well as new businesses into our community. It is also why I hold quarterly job fairs and partner with community based organizations to build skill development for residents.
Many of the issues our community faces can be addressed by strengthening our community’s economic muscle. However, economic development is not where we end, it is where we begin. That is why in my first term I have taken bold steps to do just that by investing millions into our community’s parks and our only public library in addition to bringing hundreds of units of affordable housing and many new jobs to the 24th Ward. Yet, there is still a lot left to accomplish. I look forward to continuing this work if I am reelected as your Alderman.
