Meet the Commission

Remel Terry is a distinguished community leader and advocate based in Chicago's Westside, with an impressive professional background spanning over 15 years in technical leadership, case management, advocacy, people leadership, program development, and community organizing. Her unwavering commitment to advancing the Black community and empowering its youth is a testament to her dedication and values instilled during her upbringing within a tightly-knit community. Early on, Remel demonstrated a deep passion for community sustainability, focusing her efforts on social justice issues by collaborating with prominent organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and Black Lives Matter. Her work in addressing social justice, police misconduct, and accountability showcased her determination to eradicate racial disparities. Remel has consistently partnered with grassroots organizations to confront legislative and enforcement inequities, economic development, education, legal system reform, healthcare, affordable housing, and political action. She has received recognition from the Fred Hampton Scholarship Fund for her empowering leadership, particularly in revitalizing neighborhoods and promoting financial and social equity in Chicago. As a former Vice Chair for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Targeted Community Engagement Council and an advisory council member for the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), Remel has demonstrated her dedication to community service. She also contributed her expertise to the Good Governance Transition Committee during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration, highlighting her commitment to good governance. In her recent role as Vice President for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), Remel continues to make strides in public safety. She co-led the most recent Superintendent search for the Chicago Police Department, making history yet again. Remel co-owns Black Gaming League, a company focused on digital gaming awareness and opportunities while actively engaging in community initiatives targeting youth and violence prevention. Remel Terry is renowned for being a voice for the voiceless and a collaborative force within the community, working closely with residents, non-profit organizations, and elected officials. Currently, she serves as the 1st Vice President and Political Action Committee Chair for the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, showcasing her dedication to civil rights and community development. Remel earned her Bachelor of Science in Aviation Administration with a Minor in Business from Lewis University. With over a decade of membership in the Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, she remains deeply involved in her community. Beyond her professional endeavors, Remel finds joy in traveling both domestically and abroad, further enriching her perspective and experiences. Her transformative work in community engagement was duly acknowledged through a resolution from the Board of Commissioners Cook County, IL, sponsored by 2nd Cook County District Commissioner Dennis Deer.

Angel Rubi Navarijo was born in Guatemala City and raised in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood. A proud DREAMer, Angel's public service career is deeply shaped by his working-class, immigrant background. After graduating from Loyola University Chicago in May 2023 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Global Studies, Angel worked across various levels of government, serving 6 Illinois elected officials and advocating on political and issue-based campaigns. Angel’s public service began early, serving as Student Body President at Arrupe College and as Youth Commissioner for the Office of the Mayor. In May 2022, he was selected as a Congressional Intern through the premier Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a program that places him among the top Latine leaders in the country. After college, Angel transitioned from Communications and Constituent Service Coordinator in the 40th Ward to Director of Neighborhood Services for the 48th Ward under Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth of the Chicago City Council. In this role, he oversees constituent inquiries, day-to-day city operations, coordinates city services with various city departments/agencies, and advises on neighborhood issues to improve the community’s quality of life. Appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson on May 14th and confirmed by majority vote by the Chicago City Council on Sept 18th 2024, Angel now serves as a Commissioner on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), where he helps shape policies aimed at police reform, transparency, and public safety in Chicago. The CCPSA serves as the first civilian oversight body of its kind to oversee the second largest police department in the country as well as COPA and the Chicago Police Board. Beyond his governmental roles, Angel is deeply involved in Chicago's nonprofit and economic development sectors. He served on the board of directors for Serving People with a Mission, where he chaired the Development Committee, focusing on sponsorships/fundraising development for SPM. Additionally, Angel actively engages with Chicago's economic development ecosystem, collaborating with organizations and stakeholders to drive inclusive economic opportunity across the city. Angel also holds the position of President of the CHCI Alumni Association Chicago Chapter, one of the largest and most active chapters in the country. In this role, he leads a network of accomplished Latine leaders who have completed CHCI programs, fostering mentorship, professional development, and civic engagement within the community.

Anthony Driver Jr. is a lifelong resident of Chicago’s South Side, a dedicated Bulls fan, and a seasoned political strategist with extensive experience across municipal, state, and federal levels of government. Throughout his career, Anthony has worked across both the public and private sectors, leveraging his skills to drive policy change and community advocacy. A proud graduate of Howard University, Anthony holds a degree in Political Science and History and remains a strong advocate for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Early in his career, he served as a Policy Associate at the Estell Group—the first and only Black woman-owned, full-service government relations firm operating nationally. He later took on research and consulting roles focused on the relationship between state policy and juvenile incarceration rates across the United States. Currently, Anthony serves as Executive Director of the SEIU Illinois State Council, representing more than 160,000 SEIU members statewide. In this role, he leads legislative and political strategy, organizing campaigns, and policy initiatives that center workers’ rights and social justice. Prior to this position, he was a Political Coordinator at SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana (HCII), where he helped secure landmark victories including raising Chicago’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and establishing Chicago’s first Civilian Oversight Board over its police department. In 2022, Anthony was appointed as a Commissioner for the City of Chicago’s Civilian Oversight body and subsequently elected President of the Commission. Through his leadership, Anthony has successfully lobbied for millions of dollars in federal, state, and municipal investments to be redirected toward historically marginalized and under-resourced communities. He is widely recognized for his ability to build coalitions across community members, elected officials, and stakeholders, and for his ongoing efforts to increase civic engagement and African American voter turnout. Anthony’s career reflects a steadfast commitment to justice, equity, and empowerment for working families and disenfranchised communities

Angelique Guzman is a North Side resident and one of the candidates for the Commission’s two youth seats. She is a senior at Mather High School, where she serves as class vice president. Angelique has extensive community engagement experience, particularly through her work as president of the North River Commission’s Youth Council, where she advocates for equitable economic development, sustainability initiatives, and community wellness. She also interns in her 40th Ward aldermanic office, where she has gained deep insight into the needs of North Side neighborhoods. Angelique has stood out as a youth leader in organizing communities concerned about federal immigration enforcement.

Gina Piemonte is a graduate of DePaul University and DePaul College of Law. She started her legal career with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office in 1991. In 1993, she left Chicago and moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico where she lived for two years working in her family’s business- an Italian restaurant owned by her parents. In 1995, she returned to Chicago and to the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. In her over 30-year career with the office she’s worked in various divisions. In 2004, Ms. Piemonte was promoted to the Homicide Task Force, where she stayed for 15 years. She has represented numerous clients accused of both capital and non-capital murder. In 2019 Ms. Piemonte entered management in the office. She is currently Chief of the Felony Trial Division. Ms. Piemonte has been a trial coach for law students at Loyola College of Law. She has coached numerous trial seminars presented by the Office of the State Appellate Defender’s office. She has presented on various criminal law topics both inside her office as well as for outside groups and organizations.

Anjanette Young, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, advocate, and author whose work is rooted in a lifelong commitment to mental health, trauma recovery, civil rights, and justice. Bringing together decades of clinical expertise and lived experience, she has become a leading voice on healing, resilience, and police accountability. In February 2019, Anjanette endured a life-altering traumatic experience when Chicago police officers wrongfully raided her home while she was preparing for bed. The highly publicized incident, which occurred while she was naked and unarmed, became a catalyst for national conversations about policing, racial justice, and the disproportionate impact of systemic failures on Black women. Rather than allowing trauma to define her, Anjanette transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy, legislative reform, and healing. Her commitment to justice is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Raised in rural Mississippi by her grandmother, a civil rights activist who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Anjanette inherited a legacy of courage, resilience, faith, and service that continues to shape her work today. Today, Anjanette is recognized as one of the nation's leading advocates at the intersection of trauma, mental health, and justice reform. She has been featured and interviewed by prominent national media outlets, including CBS News, ABC News, USA Today, and has appeared on programs hosted by Gayle King, Soledad O'Brien, and Joy Reid, where she has shared her personal story and advocated for meaningful police accountability and trauma-informed public policy. Beyond public advocacy, Anjanette actively contributes to national civil rights litigation and constitutional reform. She works alongside the Institute for Justice in Washington, D.C., supporting litigation efforts involving constitutional rights and police accountability. Her work includes contributing to amicus briefs submitted in significant federal court cases, including matters before the United States Supreme Court, helping amplify the real-world impact of unconstitutional policing practices on individuals and communities. As a practicing therapist and founder of Cafe Social Work Consulting, LLC, Anjanette provides clinical services, professional supervision, leadership development, and trauma-informed training to behavioral health professionals, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Her work emphasizes resilience, ethical leadership, trauma-informed care, and the importance of creating systems that promote healing rather than harm. Committed to expanding access to mental health care, Anjanette founded the I AM HER Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black women and girls through mental health support, leadership development, mentorship, and advocacy. The foundation helps reduce barriers to therapy by providing financial assistance while creating spaces that foster healing, confidence, and long-term wellness. Anjanette is also the author of Past the Pain, a powerful memoir that chronicles her journey from surviving a traumatic police raid to discovering purpose through healing, faith, and advocacy. In the book, she candidly shares not only the events surrounding the raid and its aftermath but also practical lessons for anyone navigating trauma, loss, or adversity. Drawing strength from her faith, community, and her family's civil rights legacy, Anjanette demonstrates that trauma does not have to define a person's future—it can become the foundation for resilience, transformation, and meaningful change. Whether speaking from a conference stage, training professionals, advocating in legislative spaces, supporting constitutional litigation, or counseling clients, Anjanette remains committed to advancing a society where justice, healing, equity, and human dignity are accessible to all. Through every aspect of her work, she continues to inspire individuals and organizations to move beyond pain, embrace purpose, and create lasting change.

Sandra Wortham is the owner and principal attorney of The Law Office of Sandra J. Wortham, LLC. Prior to founding her firm, Sandra served as a civilian Deputy Director with the Chicago Police Department. As a lifelong Chicagoan, Sandra is the daughter of a retired Chicago Public School teacher and a retired Chicago Police Sergeant and the sister of a fallen Chicago Police Officer. With strong ties to her Southside community, Sandra is committed to advancing smart, effective public safety policy in Chicago. She serves as President of the Nat King Cole Park Advisory Council, Executive Board President of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and Chairperson of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. Sandra is a graduate of Howard University and the Chicago-Kent College of Law.