This week, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced a series of personnel changes within his administration and city government, most notably a new deputy mayor for public safety. He tapped Emmanuel Andre as the new Deputy Mayor for Community Safety. Johnson also named Jonah Anderson as the First Deputy for Health and Human Services.
In addition, Johnson appointed two nominees to fill vacancies on the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA): Angelique Guzman and Anjanette Young.
Andre spent four years in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office as the deputy of policy and strategic litigation. He is also a restorative justice leader and has built support systems for young people navigating the criminal justice system. He expanded Restorative Justice Community Courts, co-founded Circles and Cipher, advancing community-based approaches to safety and assisted in developing the Freedom Defense Centers on the South and West Sides, which were created to expand legal and support services for community residents.
“We fully support his transition and look forward to continuing to work with him as an advocate for justice and safety for all Chicagoans,” Cook County Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. said in a press statement.
Andre is replacing Garien Gatewood, whom Johnson appointed as the first-ever deputy mayor of community safety in 2023. Gatewood was terminated from the role in March.
Anderson will serve a dual role in the Johnson administration as First Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homelessness. Anderson has more than 15 years of experience across public health, housing, and human services in government, nonprofit, philanthropic, and financial sectors.
Previously, Anderson worked with Cinnaire, where he helped obtain more than $141 million in equity and supported the development of over 650 affordable housing units. He’s also served as a Mobile Crisis Counselor, providing trauma-informed support connecting people to housing, healthcare and services.
“In his dual role, he will help strengthen coordination across City departments and partner agencies and advance implementation of the City’s homelessness response efforts,” according to a written release.
Currently, there are two vacancies on the CCPSA. Johnson nominated Guzman and Young to fill those vacancies, but the appointments must be approved by the Chicago City Council.
“The CCPSA is a cornerstone of our vision for a safer, more just Chicago,” Johnson said in a written release. “It reflects our commitment to ensuring that public safety is shaped not just by policy, but by the voices and lived experiences of the people we serve. With leaders like Angelique Guzman and Anjanette Young, we are ensuring that this work is grounded in community voice, lived experience, and a shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and equity.”
Guzman is a senior at Mather High School, where she serves as class vice president. She is also the president of the North River Commission’s Youth Council, where she advocates for equitable economic development, sustainability initiatives, and community wellness. Guzman is also an intern for the 40th Ward aldermanic office.
“Angelique has stood out as a youth leader in organizing communities concerned about federal immigration enforcement,” according to a press statement.
Young is a South Side resident and licensed clinical social worker, clinician, and community advocate. For the last seven years, her life’s work has centered on demanding justice not only for herself, but also for others who have been traumatized by police after her home was wrongfully raided in 2019. She’s also been an advocate for police reform and the Chicago Police Department’s no-knock policy.
Her clinical experience includes medical social work at the University of Illinois Chicago’s Division of Specialized Care for Children, where she supported individuals and families through mental health interventions, crisis management and clinical assessments.
She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work and has held roles in various mental health organizations.
The appointees will assume their roles following the expiration of the current commissioners’ terms in June.
A vacancy on the commission requires a formal selection process that’s led by the Nominating Committee, a group of 22 District Councilors, one appointed from each of Chicago’s District Councils. The committee nominates at least two candidates for each vacancy and must submit them to the Mayor. Next, the Mayor appoints a nominee for each vacancy.
Another Commissioner’s term will expire in October. Johnson will advise on the decision at a later time.
The Chicago City Council has to approve all appointments.
