Pete Kalenik

Pete serves as a Field Training Officer assigned to Chicago's Ogden (10th) District. He is responsible for mentoring and evaluating the newest members of the Chicago Police Department, while primarily safeguarding the city's Little Village and North Lawndale communities. He earned the Chicago Police Academy's Outstanding Recruit Award and has been recognized for his work addressing crime surrounding vacant properties. Pete has also served as a spokesman for Chicago's community-policing program.

Pete enlisted in the military under the National Call to Service program. He served on active duty as a paratrooper with the Army's Chaplain Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Later, Pete would serve as a Civil Affairs Sergeant with the United States Army Reserve. Today, Pete is an Officer Candidate in the Illinois Army National Guard.

Pete is the Founder of NLC/Chicago. As an Executive Board Member, he has helped recruit, mentor, and train more than 180 millennial leaders throughout Chicago. During an intensive six-month curriculum, NLC Fellows improve their skills in the fields of public speaking, volunteer management, and fundraising.

Pete served as a middle school science teacher at Visitation Catholic School. In return for only $5 per day in spending money, Pete dedicated himself to creating an inquiry-based curriculum that inspired students to attend high school and college. He also served as a youth football coach at O'Hallaren Park and volunteered as an assistant basketball coach at The Faith Community of St. Sabina, while living and working on Chicago's Southside.

Pete earned a joint degree in law and public policy from Loyola University Chicago. As a student, Pete served as a judicial extern in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, working under the supervision of the Honorable Gerald V. Cleary. He also enrolled in Federal Litigation Practice, learning trial advocacy skills from United States District Court Judge Virginia M. Kendall.

As a community leader, Pete volunteered as a "Street Law" mentor, teaching basic legal principles to students in Chicago Public Schools. As an academic leader, Pete was named to the Dean's List at Loyola University Chicago's Law School and Loyola University Chicago's Graduate School.

Pete enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago as a beneficiary of the Illinois Veteran Grant. His graduate thesis was entitled: "Municipal Contracting for Social Impact: Leave No Veteran Behind, Chicago Public Schools, and Safe Passage."

Pete enrolled at the University of Chicago as a transfer student from Concordia University Chicago. Pete graduated from The College with General Honors while studying in Rome, Italy (2005) and Paris, France (2007). His senior thesis was entitled: "The Congressional Franking Privilege: A History of Incumbent Advantage."

Pete is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools. He was a captain on Lane Tech's football team, played baseball, and was President of the Lane Tech Lettermen Club.