ABOUT ME

My name is Tyler Giacalone, and I am asking you for the privilege to represent you on the Will County Board.

I am an educator, community organizer, and the President of the Young Democrats of Will County. From leading protests for marriage equality at the age of 14 to testifying on saving our children from the horrors of gun violence, my life’s purpose is fighting for the betterment of our neighborhoods and our communities. I am running for the Will County Board because I want to take that fight to our elected officials, help build working class communities for ALL, not just the few.

I was born on February 18, 1997 as Tyler Jordan Giacalone. My middle name, “Jordan”, was chosen in honor of my father's PhD advisor who passed away from cancer shortly after my birth. Growing up, my family and I moved four times before I was thirteen-years-old.

This was especially hard on me during some of most formative years, constantly uprooting my life and restarting anew in a completely different area, but it also blessed me with the chance to meet and build friendships with people of many backgrounds, life stories, and perspectives.

We moved to rural North Carolina in 2010, and it was there that I found my passion for public service and saw first hand the power of organizing. I started off as an Intern for the 2012 Barack Obama Campaign, and met a woman named Dorothy, who taught me to stop accepting excuses and get involved.

Later that year, I led a protest for the creation of a Gay-Straight Alliance club at my high school. The school eventually allowed the club, and my friends named me honorary president. Moving back to Illinois, I continued my political involvement by working with the Mikva Challenge and Youth and Government programs.

I continued my journey in public service at The Ohio State University, where I earned my undergraduate degree from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs. As a proud Buckeye, I testified at the Ohio State House against HB 48 – a bill that would have allowed open carry of firearms on school grounds.

I spent the summer after my sophomore year interning at Argonne National Laboratory, and my research resulted in a paper called "Controversial Projects and Potential Implications for the Consent-Based Siting of Nuclear Waste Management Facilities," which I was fortunate to be the primary author of. The paper was published by the Department of Energy and presented at the Waste Management Symposium.

I also had the privilege of working for Senator Durbin’s office in Washington, D.C. as an intern, helping with the operations of his Senate office, and I returned home from that experience with a renewed sense of commitment to working for the betterment of our government and our democracy.

After completing my undergraduate studies, I pursued a Master's Degree in the Teaching of History from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a licensed educator and multi-needs teacher in Bolingbrook, I have been fortunate enough to inspire the next generation of leaders, scholars, and activists. I know firsthand the importance of investing in our children's education, and I am committed to supporting policies that strengthen our schools and communities.



I believe that the Democratic Party is at its strongest when young people are actively involved in every aspect, from volunteering to running for office. As your Will County Board Member, I will be a tireless advocate for our community, prioritizing affordable housing, public safety, and equitable transportation.

I am confident that, together, we can create lasting, positive change in our communities. I humbly ask for your support and your vote in the upcoming election. Let's work together to build a brighter future for ALL.