Born in Chicago and raised in Little Village, Celina Villanueva is currently the State Senator for Illinois’ 12 th District. Before joining the Senate, Celina served in the Illinois House of Representatives, as Civic and Youth Engagement Manager at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), director of Organizing at Chicago Votes and as Outreach Director for then Cook County Commissioner
Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

 

When Celina was appointed to the Illinois House of Representatives in 2018, she brought the voices of her community with her to continue the work they had started. In the House, Celina led the effort to
include strong social equity measures in the state’s cannabis laws. Celina also worked with immigrant advocates to pass the Keep Illinois Families Together Act, prohibiting law enforcement from working with ICE.

Celina was sworn into the Illinois Senate in 2020 and currently sits on the following committees: Revenue (Chair); Appropriations, Higher Education (Vice-Chair), Labor, Transportation, and S. C. on Crime Law & Public Safety.

 

Senator Villanueva remains a community organizer at heart and will continue to uplift marginalized voices in Springfield.