The Next Generation Society of the ACLU is a vibrant and diverse membership group for activists, artists, emerging leaders, and engaged community members committed to supporting the essential work of the ACLU and safeguarding civil liberties for future generations.
Founded in Chicago in 2015, the Next Generation Society of the ACLU focuses on engaging the “next generation” of ACLU supporters. ACLU Next Gen members infuse the work of the ACLU with new energy, bring diverse professional and social networks into the ACLU community, and most importantly, are passionate about protecting and expanding civil liberties for all people.
Through educational panels, fundraisers, book clubs, happy hours, volunteer opportunities, and celebrity chef dinners ACLU Next Generation Society members gather and work together to learn about, support, and advance the important work of the ACLU. Members also get opportunities to use their expertise and resources to work directly with ACLU staff on important initiatives. In the past, members have served as cooperating pro bono attorneys and issue experts, helped with design and video projects, and have facilitated partnerships with community organizations.
The ACLU asks Next Generation Society members to make a minimum annual contribution of $125 (fully tax-deductible), all of which goes towards funding the ACLU’s work on reproductive freedom, voting, immigration, police reform, privacy, First Amendment issues, and more. Thanks to the commitment of its members, the Next Generation Society fully funds a staff position each year - the Next Generation Society Staff Attorney, which was named in 2021. This named position honors the Society’s dedication to the ACLU.
At a time when we are facing unprecedented challenges to our rights across the board, we must work together and support the ACLU’s extensive efforts to fight for change. We hope you will join the Next Generation Society of ACLU of Illinois today!
Questions? Please contact us at NextGenerationSociety@aclu-il.org. The Next Generation Society of the ACLU is open to all who are passionate about defending our civil liberties and preserving our democracy. If the cost of $125 is a barrier to you, please reach out about a sponsored membership.
Executive Board
Aaron Salamonson - Strategy Developer, Proprietary Trading Firm
President
Ashley Hurley - Legal Administrative Assistant, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
Vice President
Matea Varvodic - Senior Director of External Affairs, OneGoal
Board Secretary
Zee Alsayag - Senior Solution Engineer, ForgeRock
Technology Officer
Nidhi Narielwala - Attorney, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Technology Officer
Mike Bittner - Communications Strategist, ZS
Events Co-Chair
Maggie Michelson - MD, Pediatric Neurologist, Northshore University Health System
Events Co-Chair
Katie Jackson - Communications and Outreach Coordinator, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic
Membership Co-Chair
Deena Prescavage - Senior Manager, Annual and Major Gifts, Habitat for Humanity Chicago
Membership Co-Chair
Zack Brown - Capital Markets Trading Principal, Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Community Liaison
Jaylin McClinton
Community Liaison
MJ Wayne - Associate Attorney, Jenner & Block LLP
Community Liaison
Board
Ari Afsar - Actor and Performer, Former Cast Member of Hamilton Chicago
Amelia Bailey - Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Adam Bottner - Director of Legal Solutions, Epiq
Allie Calkins, Global Corporate Segment Controller, Jones Lang LaSalle
Kelly Cervantes - Nonprofit Consultant
Sarah Chowdhury - Legal Counsel, Illinois State Comptroller
Blair Dawson - Member Partner, McDonald Hopkins LLC
Kayla Farhang - Juris Doctor Candidate, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Sarah Futernick - Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Huge Galdones - Owner, Galdones Photography
Nida Shakir Ghaffar - Attorney, Husch Blackwell LLP
Daniel Goff - Head of Policy, Kodiak Robotics
Laura Haning - Sales Director, Nextpoint
Carter Harms - Legislative Associate, Office of Governor JB Pritzker
Jesse Johnson - Volunteer Engagement Coordinator, American Immigration Council
Paul Jones - Staff Attorney, Illinois Justice Project
Eli Litoff - Partner, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
Robert Middleton - Associate, ArentFox Schiff LLP
James Mooney - Managing Associate, Sidley Austin LLP
Kailey Mullins - Program Director, Thresholds
Sam Rose - Associate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Greg Schweizer - Attorney, Eimer Stahl LLP
Wesam Shahed - Policy Advisor, Cook County State’s Attorney Office
Ellen Toobin - Management Consultant, Slalom
Jason Vincent - Chef, Giant Restaurant
Rebecca Weissman - Sales and Marketing Attorney, Ford Motor Co.
Tiffani Watson - Managing Director of Education and Corporate Engagement, Chicago Bar Association’s Media and Civic Education, Inc.
Dan Weyl - Principal and Co-Founder, Four Corners Global Consulting Group, LLC
Dylan Yurgionas - Senior Software Engineer, Google X
