Why do we still have all these horrible guns?

Colleen Daley is the Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV).  She has over 21 years of experience in political strategy, public policy, legislative affairs, media relations and resource management among large-scale government and nonprofit organizations. 

Having lost a childhood friend in a senseless shooting in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood where she grew up, Colleen has a deep sense of purpose in her position with ICHV.  Since joining ICHV in April of 2011 she has grown the statewide outreach campaign, successfully passed common sense gun control legislation, and continues to advance ICHV’s Student Voices Program.

“I am honored to be a part of ICHV’s legacy of fighting to save lives.  My life and too many others have been touched by gun violence.  This experience taught me that when violence strikes, it doesn’t choose a community, a race or a political party. It is a devastating issue that ultimately impacts all of us, and the only way we will defeat it is by working together.  Here at ICHV we build nontraditional alliances to support common sense violence prevention and make all communities safe all across our state.”

Prior to coming to ICHV, Colleen served as the Director of Legislative Affairs to former State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.  Before that, she served as the Campaign Director of Illinois for Health Care, the Strategic Sourcing Manger for the State of Illinois Department of Central Management Services and the Chief of Staff to former State Representative John Fritchey. 

Colleen is a native of Chicago, and a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep and Indiana University.