Julia Ramirez

Ramirez was born and raised in Brighton Park and currently resides in her childhood home.{{Cite web |last=Savedra |first=Madison |date=2023-05-24 |title=Meet Julia Ramirez, The First Woman Elected To Lead The Southwest Side's 12th Ward |url=http://blockclubchicago.org/2023/05/24/community-organizer-to-alderwoman-meet-julia-ramirez-the-first-woman-elected-to-lead-the-12th-ward/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=Block Club Chicago |language=en-US}}

Ramirez attended Catholic private schools Our Lady of Fatima and Five Holy Martyrs in Brighton Park. She attended a boarding school in California on a scholarship.

After high school, Ramirez moved back to Brighton Park and worked with Chicago nonprofits including Latinos Progresando, Instituto de Progreso Latino, BUILD Chicago, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, and Increase the Peace. She was a re-engagement specialist at Chicago Public Schools. She attended Northeastern Illinois University to earn her degree and license in school social work.

On October 19, 2023, residents in Brighton Park protested Chicago’s mayor Brandon Johnson plans for a migrant winterized tent community in the neighborhood. Many migrants have been sleeping at Chicago Police Departments.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=Ald. Julia Ramirez speaks for 1st time after being attacked at Brighton Park protest |url=https://abc7chicago.com/ald-julia-ramirez-chicago-protest-brighton-park-migrants/13961440/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}} Ramirez and an anonymous aide attended the protest “to address misinformation being spread about my involvement with the plan and how we should move forward as a community.”{{Cite web |last=Cherone |first=Heather |date=October 19, 2023 |title=Ald. Julia Ramirez, Aide Battered by Crowd of Protesters Outside Brighton Park Vacant Lot Set to be 'Winterized Base Camp' for Migrants |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/10/19/ald-julia-ramirez-aide-battered-crowd-protesters-outside-brighton-park-vacant-lot-set-be}} However, the crowds surrounded her and her aide and assaulted them.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-19 |title=Ald. Julia Ramirez swarmed at protest over construction of migrant tent city in Brighton Park |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/10/19/ald-julia-ramirez-swarmed-at-protest-over-construction-of-migrant-tent-city-in-brighton-park/ |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}

In early December 2023, it was announced that Governor J. B. Pritzker stopped the building of the tents. This was due to environmental concerns of heavy metals and toxins.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=▶️ Listen Now: Ald. Ramirez discusses state decision to cancel migrant tent shelter in her ward |url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/ald-ramirez-on-decision-to-cancel-migrant-tent-shelter/dc8f05be-0a3b-4c14-8e3b-ee773446bf19 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=WBEZ Chicago |language=en}} Ramirez states mixed emotions as “There were big concerns about public safety and I believe that public safety is providing people with shelter and feeding people, but we also need to make sure that it works for everybody.” Ramirez stated disappointment with the lack of communication with other Chicago politicians.

During the campaign, Ramirez stated she wants to address public safety with a holistic approach, and introduce resources to act as preventive measurements for community members, such as those that provide mental health and social services. Ramirez states the need for transparency in addressing food insecurity and housing. Ramirez advocates for gun violence prevention, fully funded education with after school programs, career services, and safe public transit. Her brother, Nicholas Ramirez, was killed at 19 years old from gun violence. She also states the need of protection of the environment. In election interviews, she states plans to collaborate with the District Coordinating Officer's (DCO) and Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS) council representatives to address these issues.

Ramirez is against the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) selling land for housing for low income families to private companies. Ramirez wants to approach small contractors to provide housing to families and provide rent-to-own options.

Ramirez is against aldermanic prerogative.

Ramirez ran against Alderperson Anabel Abarca in the 2023 12th Ward election.{{Cite news |title=Julia Ramirez- About the Candidate |url=https://news.wttw.com/elections/voters-guide/2023/Julia-Ramirez |work=WTTW}} Abarca had been on the city council since December of 2022 when she was appointed to the 12th Ward by Mayor Lori Lightfoot after former Ald. George Cardenas stepped down. Abarca was Ramirez’s only challenger after a third candidate was removed from the ballot. In an interview with Block Club, Ramirez said she woke up every morning to fight with her campaign centered around holistic public safety strategies and implementing a “community-driven process.” Ramirez won on February 28, 2023 with a 57 percent vote over Abarca’s 43 percent. Ramirez set up a “community needs assessment” to understand what the community of the southwest side wanted to see from her during her term. She also stated in interviews that she is proud to accomplish something the community has been voicing a need for, for a long time. Ramirez's term started on May 1, 2023 and ends May 17, 2027.

Before becoming an alderman, Ramirez worked with Chicago Public Schools as a re-engagement specialist. She was a restorative justice practitioner and social worker. Ramirez has a background in community activism. She helped immigrant communities access resources and mitigate crime. Ramirez has worked with the organization BUILD, including their wiki page.

The May 2023- May 2027 term is Ramirez's first term in office.{{Election box begin no change|title=2023 Chicago aldermanic election, 12th ward, first round{{Cite web |last=Chicago Board of Elections |title=Tabulated Statement of the Returns and Proclamation of the Results of the Canvass of the Election Returns for the February 28, 2023 Municipal General and Alderperson Elections Held in Each of the Precincts in All the Wards in the City of Chicago |url=https://app.chicagoelections.com/documents/proclamations/Proc-2023-02-28.pdf}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Julia Ramirez|votes=3355|percentage=57.0}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Anabel Abarca (incumbent)|votes=2531|percentage=43.0}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=5886|percentage=100.0}}

{{Election box end}}

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Category:1990s births

Category:21st-century Illinois politicians

Category:21st-century American women politicians

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Category:Hispanic and Latino American city council members

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Category:Women city councillors in Illinois

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