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Marlon Chamberlain celebrates Clean Slate victory in Illinois

January 19, 2026

From Marlon Chamberlain (Leading with Conviction™ 2019): “It took me a minute to process it all, but this was a huge victory, and reflects the hard work and commitment of so many individuals and organizations who poured their heart and soul into making this happen. …

“As I mentioned during the press conference, in this current political climate we demonstrated that democracy still works. A special thanks to Jehan Gordon-Booth and Elgie Sims for their leadership, as well as State Senator Lakesia Collins, Willie Preston State Representative Justin Slaughter, and so many other legislators who supported and championed this crucial legislation.

We’re experts because, we’ve learned how to organize, fundraise, develop impactful campaigns, navigate the legislative process, and produce real results for our communities.

“Springfield is not for the weary, and we need more voices from the community involved, especially from the Black community, to support initiatives that will uplift and benefit our neighborhoods. We, as a community, are quick to call out our elected officials when they miss the mark, but we must also do a better job of celebrating our champions.

“On most occasions, people with arrest or conviction records find ourselves as the subjects of these campaigns rather than the architects. We do not consider ourselves experts simply because of our past incarceration or records; we’re experts because, we’ve learned how to organize, fundraise, develop impactful campaigns, navigate the legislative process, and produce real results for our communities.

“Led by us at every aspect, we transformed challenges into strength, honing our skills in advocacy and legislative engagement, areas that have historically been closed off to us. This victory is a testament to our growth as leaders and trailblazers for change in our neighborhoods.

“Our team traveled across Illinois, visiting every city, yes, even as far as Metropolis, connecting with people from all walks of life. This victory belongs to every one of us who contributed in any way, big or small know that this is our win.

“As we celebrate this monumental victory with the Clean Slate bill, we recognize that our work is far from over. The implementation phase lies ahead, and it is crucial that we remain focused, engaged, and committed to ensuring that this legislation is executed effectively.”

Read the full post on Marlon’s LinkedIn.

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