You are here
About Alderman Eleanor Revelle
I moved to Evanston with my family in the 1970s, expecting that we would stay just a few years, but I quickly put down deep roots when I saw how engaged residents were in shaping the future of this community. I couldn’t think of a better place to raise a family. My husband Bill, a psychology professor at Northwestern, and our two sons, proud graduates of Orrington, Haven, and ETHS, definitely agree.
A freelance writer and editor, I have devoted much of my time and energy to strengthening our community through local organizations.
I have held the following leadership positions:
League of Women Voters. President, LWV of Evanston and LWV of Illinois, and board member of LWV United States for 8 years. I currently co-chair the LWV U.S. Climate Team, a network of League members across the country who are taking action to fight climate change.
Leadership Evanston, founding member and Chair of the steering committee. Since 1992, this annual 10-month program has helped broaden participants’ understanding of community issues and challenges, build their leadership skills, and connect them with a network of other citizens working to strengthen our community.
Evanston Community Foundation. Board Chair. ECF builds permanently endowed funds to respond to community needs and priorities, supports local nonprofits with grants and capacity-building programs, and brings people together to address community challenges and concerns.
Public Service Challenge, Co-founder. Begun in 2000, this nonpartisan training program is offered each election cycle to encourage residents to become candidates or campaign workers in local elections.
Citizens’ Greener Evanston, founding board member and President. I was one of the community members who worked with City staff to draft Evanston’s first Climate Action Plan (2008) and then launched CGE to help implement that plan. Initially focused on reducing the community’s greenhouse gas emissions, CGE’s work now encompasses the economic, social, and environmental justice aspects of sustainability as well.
These experiences gave me a good foundation for evaluating policy proposals and making tough decisions as a member of the City Council these past five years. They provided me with a deep appreciation for our community and for residents’ commitment to ensuring that Evanston is “the most livable city” for all our residents.