Illustration: Kagan McCleod
But after 13 years, Ramirez decided she “never wanted to direct social services” again. Hoping to make systemic improvements in housing security, she began her legislative career in the Illinois general assembly in 2018. Now she’s starting her first term in the U.S. Capitol, a milestone she says “brings indescribable humility” along with responsibility.
I got into elected office because people in my community felt unseen by elected officials as it pertains to housing. There was so much housing instability before the pandemic, and the pandemic just showed the other space, of gentrification, rising housing costs, and people having to choose between their mortgage and going to the doctor. In the state of Illinois, about 60 percent of Latinos live in multigenerational housing.
That’s great. I would love to hear about orientation, how you felt going into it and how it turned out. Passing the Dream Act and legislation that begins to chart the pathway to citizenship for the 2 million people who are my age right now, waiting anxiously for a response on how they could move forward, is really important.