She Runs Illinois 2024! — Suzanne Akhras, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 82
She Votes Illinois is pleased to feature Suzanne Akhras who is running for IL House of Representatives, District 82. Follow our series, She Runs Illinois 2024!, leading up to election day as we showcase and uplift the voices of Illinois women running for public office in the upcoming election, November 5, 2024.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Suzanne Akhras and I am the Democratic candidate for IL State Representative District 82. I am dedicated to ensuring women’s access to reproductive healthcare, securing and expanding mental health resources, advocating for community safety initiatives, and reducing gun violence.
I have lived in District 82 with my family for almost 20 years. Born in Syria, I immigrated to the US at the age of 10. My diverse background shaped my dedication to service and advocacy. My father is Syrian, and my mother is Canadian.
I am married to Dr. Zaher Sahloul, a physician at Advocate Christ Hospital. He is an award-winning humanitarian who founded MedGlobal, a nonprofit organization providing life-saving medical aid in conflict areas. Our oldest son works at the Pentagon and serves in the Navy, ensuring safety both domestically and abroad. Our youngest son is a management consultant and adjunct marketing professor at Loyola University of Chicago. He helped build my creative brand. Our daughter is in medical school, aspiring to specialize in women’s health. My greatest joy is my grandson, Rayan, and I am deeply committed to ensuring a better future for him and all future generations.
I believe in the power of volunteerism and public service. I have served on executive boards of various nonprofit organizations, addressing needs such as mental health services, youth programs, and immigration reform. In 2015, I founded the Syrian Community Network (SCN), a nonprofit organization that supports refugees and immigrants in navigating new systems and provides them with services to attain economic security. I am also the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Community for Displaced Immigrants and serve on the Council of Leaders of the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform. I have been actively involved in my local community, establishing a food pantry and a neighborhood watch program.
I hold a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University and completed Nonprofit Management and Executive Education at Northwestern University — Kellogg School of Management. I have received numerous awards and recognitions for my community impact and humanitarian efforts.
What are your top three legislative priorities you intend to focus on in office?
I am dedicated to ensuring women’s access to reproductive healthcare, securing and expanding mental health resources, advocating for community safety initiatives, and reducing gun violence.
- Ensuring women’s access to reproductive healthcare. The decision if, when, or how to have kids is a deeply personal one. I support people’s freedom to make healthcare decisions that best work for them and their families. All women should be able to have safe and respectful healthcare that supports healthy pregnancies and births.
- Securing and expanding mental health services. Mental health conditions can be manageable and treatable with access to resources and services. Improved mental health access reduces days of missed work and school, lowers medical costs, and helps people feel more secure in their lives. As a state representative, I will support increased funding for mental health services, expand access to treatment, and advocate for the rights of people with mental health conditions.
- Advocating for community safety initiatives and reducing gun violence. We cannot talk about community safety without talking about gun violence. Guns are the number one cause of death for kids in the US. Gun deaths are preventable. I am proud to have received the Gun Sense Candidate distinction and I am constantly learning what we can do to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer.
What motivated you to run for office?
Our family life is centered around service and advocacy. I am running for office because of the example that has been set for me my whole life — service to the community is a duty, it is a shared responsibility. Serving others brings people together. I am driven in this campaign by my grandson, Rayan. Rayan’s future is a driving force behind my decision to run for office.
What steps will you take to enhance civic engagement and ensure that the voices of all constituents, including marginalized communities, are heard and represented in the legislative process in Illinois?
I have been advocating for marginalized community members my entire life, so being part of the Illinois legislature will be a continuation of my work. In my current position as a nonprofit leader, we serve refugees and immigrants. We help them navigate new systems, we provide them with resources to attain economic security, feel empowered
in their education, and become permanent residents or citizens. I will bring to the Illinois house my experience in working with underserved communities, and my understanding of their needs.
What policies will you advocate for to better support women, including those with disabilities and chronic pain, who often face medical gaslighting and barriers in accessing necessary healthcare?
Access to healthcare is something I care deeply about. Through my work with low-income immigrants and refugees and being married to a humanitarian who works in underserved hospitals in Chicago and abroad, I understand the need to increase access to healthcare and reduce barriers. Healthcare should not be a luxury, but a human right. Everyone should be able to access quality, affordable healthcare. I have traveled to refugee camps and volunteered to translate in the women’s health clinics. I understand how important it is to have access to quality healthcare for everyone — especially for women! I plan to support legislation that makes healthcare affordable, and accessible for community members. Our zip code, income, gender, or race should not be deciding factors on whether we receive or not quality healthcare. I believe in culturally responsive healthcare, and I am in support of educating our healthcare providers on how to serve patients with diverse identities.
What measures can Illinois implement to better protect women from intimate partner violence, considering high-profile cases involving the abuse and stalking of Black women like the attack on pregnant Laterria Smith and murder of her son, Jayden Perkins, by her ex-partner; and Dominique Ward’s struggles with her ex-partner’s cyberstalking?
Everyone deserves to be part of relationships free of intimate partner violence. Laws such as “Karina’s Bill” (still not passed by the Illinois legislature) will keep weapons from the hands of abusers. We need to consider protections for survivors of domestic violence and training for law enforcement and healthcare providers who work with survivors.
Closing comments
I am a passionate advocate for underserved communities and women’s reproductive rights. I am a proven leader, as the founder of a nonprofit organization. I am an impactful collaborator, who builds strong coalitions to drive needed positive change. I am a resourceful problem solver who secures funding and champions meaningful solutions. I am an award-winning champion recognized for her humanitarian efforts and community impact.
Join me in making a difference by electing a State Representative who cares about the people. I am dedicated to ensuring women’s access to reproductive healthcare, securing and expanding mental health resources, advocating for community safety initiatives, and reducing gun violence. I am committed to fostering unity and addressing common priorities and concerns. Join me in my mission to create a better future for IL District 82.
If you would like to learn more about Suzanne Akhras and her platform or volunteer for her campaign, please check out her website at suzanneforil.com. Don’t forget to follow her on social media at @suzanneforil. Reach out today and help make a difference in the upcoming 2024 election.
(The information contained in this post is provided only as general information and does not imply an endorsement by She Votes Illinois.)
