Rachael Wilson

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT RACHAEL WILSON

Rachael Wilson is an advocate, coordinator and researcher with a background in urban planning. She is a Chicagoan and is also an Irish citizen with roots in Belfast. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Science and her master’s in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Rachael became fascinated with urban planning while working with a team of planners to assess the social impacts of a river remediation as an undergraduate researcher. While completing her masters degree, Rachael focused her research on the intersection of community health needs and the built environment. She also developed interests in economic development and local finance. Before starting work with WEDC, Rachael worked as the Health Outreach and Engagement coordinator at the Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA), located in Humboldt Park. There she forged partnerships with residents and local health institutions. She also led community programming focused on decreasing health disparities in the communities LUCHA serves. Rachael’s work at LUCHA provided her with a visceral understanding of the negative health effects of displacement, which informed her advocacy work for the creation and preservation of affordable housing with LUCHA and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. In her free time, Rachael enjoys singing and playing guitar, catching up on local news, and reading science fiction.