Join us on Instagram Live @illnoiswrc as we chat with Illinois alum, Amber Kirchhoff about her professional journey and how her activism led her to a career in public policy. Talking with Amber will be Sydney Jones '20, recent graduate in Sociology and Political Science, and former WRC Marketing and Communications intern. Come see what these two have to discuss!
About Amber: Amber has a decade of dynamic experience, including work in state government and with health care providers, nonprofit organizations, and public research institutions. As Director of Public Policy + Government Affairs at the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, she advances legislative, regulatory, and budgetary priorities on behalf of federally qualified community health centers, and serves as a liaison to federal, state, and local elected officials and stakeholders. Previously, Amber was Manager of Public Policy at Thresholds, one of Illinois’ largest and longest serving community mental health centers. There she played a critical role in the development and successful passage of bipartisan legislation including the Children and Young Adult Mental Health Crisis Act and the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. She also helped to launch Healthy Minds Healthy Lives, a diverse statewide coalition of mental health and substance use advocates. Amber holds a Master of Political Science from the Civic Leadership Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as well as a Bachelor of Political Science and Sociology from UIUC. During her time on campus, she was a member of the Campus Honors Program, leader of UIUC NOW, and participant in Alternative Spring Break and International Impact.
About Sydney: Sydney Jones is a recent graduate, majoring in Sociology and Political Science. Sydney accomplished a lot in her time as a Marketing & Communications Intern at the WRC, and used the position to actively participate in creating a new queer reality outside of colonial paradigms. In her free time, she likes researching African American history and culture, listening to RnB, and watching Asian dramas.
