Faith Townsell is a junior studying political science at Saint Louis University and a proud native of Chicago, Illinois. She is deeply committed to advancing economic justice and expanding opportunity in historically disinvested communities.
Faith has pursued this mission across both the public and private sectors. She served as a youth advisor within the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, working across the Departments of Education, Youth and Human Services, and Business, Economic, and Neighborhood Development. During her tenure, she also served on the Mayor’s Youth Commission, advising the Mayor on issues impacting young people across the city.
In the private sector, Faith has worked at one of Chicago’s largest community development financial institutions, where she focused on initiatives aimed at strengthening underserved communities. She has also founded independent initiatives and nonprofits dedicated to addressing economic insecurity.
Her work centers on amplifying youth voice, confronting structural inequality, and expanding pathways to leadership for underrepresented communities. Faith is an Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholar for Public Service, a highly competitive national program recognizing students with a demonstrated commitment to public impact. Her leadership and community work have been recognized by Yale University, World Business Chicago, the Mayor’s Office of Chicago, and former President Barack Obama.
