Evelyn Diaz

President, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights

Evelyn J. Diaz is the President of Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, a global anti-poverty and human rights organization based in Chicago that provides a comprehensive array of services to nearly half a million people annually in the areas of healthcare, housing, human services, and justice. She is responsible for directing domestic and global strategy and operations for Heartland Alliance’s five nonprofit corporate entities, with a combined budget of $150 million and 1,600 employees in 12 countries. Previously, Ms. Diaz was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to lead the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services where she was responsible for administering an annual budget of $330 million to deliver social service programs to over 300,000 Chicagoans in the areas of children, youth, homelessness, domestic violence, aging, workforce development and human services. Before joining Mayor Emanuel’s cabinet, Ms. Diaz was chief executive officer of the Chicago Workforce Investment Council, Deputy Chief of Staff to former Mayor Richard M. Daley, and Associate Director of the Chicago Jobs Council. She received her graduate degree from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and her undergraduate degree in English from the University of Notre Dame (’92).  Evelyn serves on the ND Advisory Council for the College of Arts & Letters.  She lives in Chicago with her husband, Josh, and their daughter, Isabel.