Staying true to the ideal of journalism as public service, Amara Enyia is an activist, lawyer, and public policy expert focused on supporting efforts that bring justice and equity to marginalized communities in Chicago and around the world. She ran for Chicago mayor (twice) on a “People Power” platform and won the backing of Chance the Rapper. She chairs an international human rights-centered working group that advocates at the United Nations and develops advocacy strategies for struggling cities and citizens on economic justice, criminal legal system reform, environmental justice, education equity, and other policy areas. Enyia served as editor in chief at the Daily Illini as an undergrad, and then earned a PhD in Education Policy and a law degree.

This bio was written at the time of Amara Enyia’s inauguration into the 2022 Illini Media Hall of Fame.