MARLENE PAEZ DUKES (SHE/HER)

Marlene is an equity-driven leader with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of social impact, movement building, civic engagement, and creative practice. As Chief of Staff of ACT Now, she advances statewide partnerships, advocacy, and organizational strategy supporting communities across Illinois. Previously she directed over 150 national events for the movement organization People’s Action and consulted for many nonprofit clients, creating inclusive experiences that brought together grassroots leaders, elected officials, creative professionals, and communities while managing a $1M+ events portfolio.

Her international experiences include the American Cancer Society for Asia Programs and Hill & Knowlton Beijing. She served as Host and Director of CreativeMornings Chicago and is Co-Chair of the Design Museum of Chicago’s Auxiliary Board, championing design equity and creative community engagement. She has a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is certified in Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship from the Fashion Institute of Technology.