Mayor Brandon Johnson Announces Chicago's Appointments to the NITA and Transit Agency Board of Directors

CHICAGO — Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced the City of Chicago's inaugural appointments to the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Board of Directors, as well as appointments to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace boards. As the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act takes effect, the appointments will help guide the next chapter of public transportation in Chicago and the surrounding region while strengthening coordination between transit agencies and ensuring that the needs of riders remain at the forefront of decision-making.

"Building a stronger regional transit system begins with appointing leaders who know our communities and understand the experiences of the people who rely on transit—no matter where their journey begins or where it takes them, every rider deserves a system that works seamlessly," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Every day, Chicagoans rely on buses and trains to get to work, school, childcare, medical appointments, and to connect with their communities. Our appointments reflect our commitment to building a transit system that is safer, more reliable, better connected, and more responsive to the needs of riders across our region."

NITA was established under the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act to improve coordination across regional transit agencies, including CTA, Metra, and Pace. NITA is responsible for strengthening system-wide planning, improving service integration, and supporting a more reliable and equitable transit network for riders across Northern Illinois. The new governance structure requires the Mayor to make eight appointments to represent Chicago across the transit boards.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS TRANSIT AUTHORITY (NITA) APPOINTMENTS:

Oswaldo Alvarez currently serves on the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Directors. A public policy and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in workforce development and statewide civic initiatives, Alvarez is Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation, where he led statewide policy strategy and coalition-building efforts. He also served as Illinois' Statewide Census Director for the 2020 Census, managing a $47 million operation and coordinating more than 400 community organizations. A Chicago native and fluent Spanish speaker, Alvarez earned his master's in social policy from the University of Chicago and a bachelor's in economics and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Natasha Jenkins currently serves on the RTA Board of Directors. A labor and employment attorney with more than a decade of experience representing public and private sector clients in transportation, aviation, and government, Jenkins specializes in resolving complex labor and employment disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. She currently serves as Senior Attorney at Clark Hill PLC and has held prior legal roles at Littler Mendelson, United Airlines, Teamsters Local 700, CTA, and the Illinois Attorney General's Office. Jenkins was the 108th President of the Cook County Bar Association and received her bachelor's degree from Hamilton College and a JD from UIC Law School.

Dennis Mondero currently serves on the RTA Board of Directors. A leader with experience in public transit, nonprofit management, and organizational transformation, Mondero previously served as Executive Director of the Chinese Mutual Aid Association, where he grew the organization from a $4 million to a $15 million budget, and as Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President at CTA. Mondero is now serving as General Counsel for AKIRA, the Chicago based retailer. He received his bachelor's in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, his Law Degree from Indiana University Bloomington, and his Master of Law in Real Estate from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Dee Atkins is a nonprofit and corporate social responsibility executive with more than 20 years of experience in strategic partnerships and community engagement. She currently serves as Chief of Community Engagement and Equity at Thresholds, one of Illinois' largest community-based mental health and substance use treatment providers and has held senior leadership roles across Chicago's nonprofit sector, including Marillac St. Vincent Family Services and Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. Atkins is an active participant in Chicago's Community Violence Intervention Collaborative and serves on the Community Advisory Council of West Side United. A native Chicagoan raised in the Lawndale and Austin communities, she has earned a MS in Journalism and Integrated Marketing from Roosevelt University and a BA in communications from East-West University Chicago.

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Lester Barclay is the current chairman of the CTA Board of Directors. A native of Chicago, Barclay obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College and his Juris Doctor Degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1986, Mr. Barclay was named a Henry Luce Scholar, having been identified by the Luce Foundation as one of the future leaders of America, and was assigned to the Ministry of Industry of the Royal Thai Government in Bangkok, Thailand, where he worked to establish trade relations between companies in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. As an Attorney, Mr. Barclay has distinguished himself as a powerful advocate and champion for many families and businesses in Chicago and throughout the nation.

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (CTA) BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Dr. Michael Eaddy currently serves on the CTA Board of Directors. He is the longtime senior pastor of People's Church of the Harvest Church of God in Christ, where he has led faith-based and community initiatives for more than 45 years. As president of the People's Community Development Association of Chicago, he has overseen workforce development programs for formerly incarcerated residents and the development of affordable housing projects on Chicago's South Side. Dr. Eaddy holds degrees in business administration and theology from City Colleges of Chicago and the Moody Bible Institute.

Oswaldo Alvarez (see bio above)

Lester L. Barclay (see bio above)

METRA BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Christian Mariano Díaz López currently serves on the Metra Commuter Rail Board and is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve on the board. He is an affordable housing developer with the Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA) and Co-Chair of the System Change Working Group for Elevated Chicago, where he advances equitable transit-oriented development. Diaz has held leadership roles with Gov. JB Pritzker's Community Land Trust Task Force, and Chicago Votes. His work on equitable transportation and community development has earned statewide recognition, including the American Planning Association of Illinois' 2024 award for advancing diversity in panning.

Dennis Mondero (see bio above)

PACE BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Karen Tamley is President and CEO of Access Living, one of Chicago's leading disability advocacy organizations. Previously, she served as Commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, advancing accessibility across transportation, city infrastructure, technology, education, and employment. A nationally recognized leader in disability rights, Tamley served on the U.S. Access Board after her appointment by President Obama and has held leadership roles on numerous civic and nonprofit boards, including Pace Suburban Bus. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Natasha Jenkins (see bio above)

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