Human Service Workers Launch Week of Action with Press Conference Demanding Living Wages and Legislative Support (Chicago, IL) – April 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM, Illinois Partners for Human Service, in coalition with frontline human service workers and local advocacy organizations, will host a press conference at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago (4251 W. Irving Park Rd.) to kick off a statewide Week of Action in support of fair wages and legislative protections for the human services workforce.
This event marks the launch of the Living Wages, Thriving Communities campaign’s Week of Action, a five-day statewide effort to bring urgent attention to the critical needs of Illinois’ human services sector. The press conference will spotlight the severe impact of ongoing federal funding cuts and chronic underinvestment in public health, mental health, youth engagement, early childhood care, violence prevention and substance use services. Workers and organizational leaders will call on legislators to take action and support policies that protect both the workforce and the communities they serve.
The legislative asks for the campaign include:
- Increased funding for Human Services in the FY26 State Budget
- Support of the Living Wages, Thriving Communities Resolution
- Investment in the Human Service Professional Loan Repayment Program
“For too long, human service workers—many of whom are women and people of color—have been asked to carry our communities without being fairly compensated. This Week of Action is about demanding what they deserve: living wages, dignity on the job, and the resources to continue doing the work they love. It’s time for our state to step up and fund human services like lives depend on it—because they do.” said Lauren Wright, Executive Director of Illinois Partners for Human Services.
“When human service funding is cut, it is not just programs that suffer—it is entire communities. Families lose access to child care, youth lose safe spaces, and mental health needs go unmet. We see the consequences firsthand. Investment in human services isn’t optional—it’s foundational to a thriving, equitable Illinois,” said Mary Stonor Saunders, Senior Executive Director of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
The press conference kicks off the Week of Action, taking place April 21–25, which includes:
- Tuesday, April 22: Social media blitz urging supporters to submit witness slips in support of the resolution. Instructions and social media toolkit here: https://bit.ly/livingwageilsocialtk
- Wednesday, April 23: Legislator phone banking—join us in calling senators and state representatives to ask them to co-sponsor the resolution.
- Thursday, April 24: Hearing in Springfield, IL, where human care workers will testify in front of legislators.
- Friday, April 25: Celebration of frontline workers who tirelessly serve our communities every day.
About Living Wages, Thriving Communities
The Living Wages, Thriving Communities campaign is a growing movement to ensure fair pay and economic justice for human care workers in Illinois. It unites frontline staff, nonprofit leaders, elected officials, and community advocates to address wage inequity rooted in systemic racism and sexism and secure sustainable funding for human services.
About Illinois Partners for Human Service
Illinois Partners is a statewide coalition of over 850 community-based organizations delivering essential services across all 102 counties of Illinois. From after-school programs to disability support and mental health care, their work ensures the stability and well-being of our communities.
For more information, visit: www.LivingWageIL.org
Human Service Workers Launch Week of Action with Press Conference Demanding Living Wages and Legislative Support
