Kwame Raoul

Infobox_State_Senator
name=Kwame Raoul

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imagesize=220px
state_senate=Illinois
state=Illinois
district=13th
term_start=November 6 2004
preceded=Barack Obama
succeeded=Incumbent
date of birth=birth date and age|1964|09|30
place of birth=Chicago, Illinois
date of death=
place of death=
spouse=Kali Raoul
profession=Attorney
religion=United Church of Christ
party=Democratic|

Kwame Raoul (born September 30, 1964) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 13th district since his appointment to fill the seat vacated by Barack Obama in 2004. He is the Senate chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

Early life

Raoul was born in Chicago to Haitian immigrants, Janin and Marie Raoul. Raoul earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul University and went on to receive his law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Public service

Raoul is a former Cook County prosecutor and continues to work as Senior Attorney for the City Colleges of Chicago. He has also directed volunteer legal clinics in the communities of his district.

Raoul is the founder and director of the Janin and Marie Raoul Foundation, which promotes healthcare as a human right. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Cook County Bar Association and the Cook County Bar Foundation.

Reflecting his commitment to young people, Raoul has coached Hyde Park Biddy Basketball and has been an AYSO soccer volunteer. He has participated in voter registration campaigns with Rainbow/PUSH and has served as a volunteer Election Day lawyer to protect voter rights.

Senate career

Raoul was appointed to fill the vacancy of U.S. Senator Barack Obama on November 6, 2004.

Raoul sees education as the most important issue he confronts as a state senator. He has sponsored a bill that would require that the grants distributed by Illinois State Board of Education to early childhood education and preschool programs to use those funds to improve and expand the quality of services.

As a former prosecutor, Raoul works to sponsor legislation aimed to ease the reintegration ex-offenders into the community. His legislation allows good conduct credit to be awarded to inmates who earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, as well as inmates who participate in substance abuse programs.

Raoul is vice-chairperson of the Pension and Investments Committee. He serves on the Senate Commerce, Commerce and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Judiciary Committees.

Personal life

Senator Raoul lives in the Hyde Park/Kenwood area with his wife Kali and their two children Che and Mizan. They attend the Trinity United Church of Christ.

External links

* [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=1297 Illinois General Assembly - Senator Kwame Raoul (D) 13th District] Official IL Senate website
** [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenatorBills.asp?MemberID=1297 Bills] [http://ilga.gov/senate/SenCommittees.asp?MemberID=1297 Committees]
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=33482 Project Vote Smart - Senator Kwame Raoul (IL)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Kwame Raoul
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?si=200614&c=417379 2006] campaign contributions
* [http://www.senatedem.ilga.gov/page_display.asp?PID=28 Illinois State Senate Democrats - Senator Kwame Raoul] profile