Experience

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IN UPTOWN, INC.
• Executive Director

  • Aug 2018 - Present


Association Member or Volunteer

• Current and Prior Affiliations

  • 1979 - Present

  Chair/Facilitator of St. Ita’s Church Planning Committee, Co-Chair of Senn Park Advisory Council, President NET Block Club, President of Chicago Rehab Network & Chair of the Tax Reactivation Committee; Founding board or committee for Maverick Advocates & Professionals, Training for Trainers Coop, Property Management Resource Center, Statewide Housing Action Coalition, Chicago Mutual Housing Network and Families Together Cooperative Nursery School; Volunteer Advisor-Member to Access Living and Early Childhood Network of Edgewater & Rogers Park; Member of Prairie Preservation Society of Ogle County, Northside Catholic Academy Parents Organization, Illinois Renewable Energy Association, Governor’s Housing Transition Team, Regional Affordable Housing Roundtable, 48th Ward Zoning & Planning Committee, At-Home Dads & Adoptive Family Associations, Chicago Housing Partnership, Harris Bank CRA Committee, Mayor Daley’s Chicago Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) and the Illinois Task Force for Tax Delinquent Properties. Show less



Raila & Associates, P.C.

• Administrative Manager

  • May 2013 - Jul 2018

  Raila & Associates, PC, an Illinois law firm headed by Paula Raila, has acquired Andrea A. Raila & Associates, Inc. property tax consultants. Area of Practice is Real Estate Tax Appeals. Raila & Associates, PC, an Illinois law firm headed by Paula Raila, has acquired Andrea A. Raila & Associates, Inc. property tax consultants. Area of Practice is Real Estate Tax Appeals.



Training, Research, Advocacy & Education Network (TRAEN, Inc.)

• Co-Owner/Issue Consultant

  • May 2013 - Jul 2018

  On a part-time basis, supports non-profit assistance services, oversees research on matters of public policy, particularly in areas of affordable housing and property tax reform, and seeks to raise public awareness and to advocate for related private and public initiatives. On a part-time basis, supports non-profit assistance services, oversees research on matters of public policy, particularly in areas of affordable housing and property tax reform, and seeks to raise public awareness and to advocate for related private and public initiatives.



Andrea A. Raila & Associates

• Administrative Manager

  • 1996 - Apr 2013

  Co-owned and managed Andrea A. Raila & Associates, an Illinois property tax and public policy consulting firm. The company assisted taxpayers in winning property tax relief and educated/trained owners how to appeal their taxes. The company advocated for public policy reforms to make our property tax assessment and appeals system more accurate, transparent and equitable. Co-owned and managed Andrea A. Raila & Associates, an Illinois property tax and public policy consulting firm. The company assisted taxpayers in winning property tax relief and educated/trained owners how to appeal their taxes. The company advocated for public policy reforms to make our property tax assessment and appeals system more accurate, transparent and equitable.



Loyola University Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning

• United States
• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Community Projects Coordinator/Community Fellow

  • 1997 - 2002

  Brought community experience to academic environment in support of collabortive evaluation and applied research projects for and with community-based development groups and service organizations. Co-Authored studies of demographic changes and affordable housing options in Rogers Park Community of Chicago. Brought community experience to academic environment in support of collabortive evaluation and applied research projects for and with community-based development groups and service organizations. Co-Authored studies of demographic changes and affordable housing options in Rogers Park Community of Chicago.



People's ReInvestment & Development Effort (PRIDE)

• Executive Director

  • 1982 - 1996

  Served as Executive Director, Assistant Director and Tenant Services Manager of PRIDE -- once one of Chicago's best non-profit, community-controlled housing development corporations. The organization engineered the re-development and management of a number of multi-unit apartment buildings in the Austin Community on Chicago's Westside, and enabled energy-saving, accessibility and general improvements for and with hundreds of local homeowners, and facilitated tenant and community services. Served as Executive Director, Assistant Director and Tenant Services Manager of PRIDE -- once one of Chicago's best non-profit, community-controlled housing development corporations. The organization engineered the re-development and management of a number of multi-unit apartment buildings in the Austin Community on Chicago's Westside, and enabled energy-saving, accessibility and general improvements for and with hundreds of local homeowners, and facilitated tenant and community services.



Bethel New Life/Bethel Housing

• Development Assistant/Cooperative Developer

  • 1979 - 1981

  Assisted executive director in this rapidly growing corporation as a nationally recruited VISTA volunteer and salaried manager. Assisted executive director in this rapidly growing corporation as a nationally recruited VISTA volunteer and salaried manager.