Justin DeJong, 26, has been active within local and state government since moving to Chicago in 2001.
After receiving his bachelor's in public relations from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, Justin interned in Mayor Richard M. Daley's press office and was instrumental in planning President Vicente Fox's first visit to Chicago. He also supported media relations for the first campaigns of Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
In 2002, he began working for Peoples Energy, where he held several project management roles in the communications and governmental relations division. During this period, he played a key media relations role in electing Ald. Tom Tunney as Chicago's first openly gay alderman. Justin also coordinated hundreds of volunteers for Sen. Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
Justin began working in Blagojevich's administration in early 2005, serving first as a spokesman for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ( DCEO ) and, currently, as lead spokesman for the Department of Central Management Services ( CMS ) .
He has been involved with Equality Illinois, the AIDS/Run-Walk, TPAN and Chicago House. Recently, he volunteered for the Fair Illinois initiative and assisted with fundraising efforts for Lake View Citizen Council's Space Park. He is currently Vice President of Young Chicago Lakefront, the 44th Ward Democrat's young professional organization.
DID YOU KNOW? DeJong will be running in both the 5K and 10K in Gay Games VII in Chicago this summer.