#WeAllServe
Pete Kalenik is committed to public service. This commitment has led Pete to serve as a Chicago police officer, an AmeriCorps educator, and a soldier with the Illinois Army National Guard.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
SERVING AMERICA
LEADING SOLDIERS
EDUCATING STUDENTS
EMPOWERING CHILDREN
– Present
Pete serves as a Patrolman and Field Training Officer in the Chicago Police Department. As a Patrolman, he is responsible for safeguarding the city's Little Village and North Lawndale communities. As a Field Training Officer, he teaches and mentors junior officers in Chicago's most violent neighborhood. He was named the "Most Outstanding Recruit" at the Chicago Police Academy. His work has been recognized for addressing crime surrounding vacant housing. He is also a spokesperson for Chicago's community-policing program and serves on the city's Crisis Intervention Team.
Lieutenant, Paratrooper, and former Non-Commissioned Officer
July 2007 – Present
Pete is a Lieutenant in the Illinois Army National Guard. He originally enlisted as an active-duty paratrooper with the Army's Chaplain Corps, under the National Call to Service program. Prior to earning his commission, Pete served as a Staff Sergeant and Civil Affairs Team Leader in the Army Reserve.
Educator and Community Organizer
May 2009 – September 2012
Pete served as a middle school teacher at Visitation Catholic School. As an educator, he dedicated himself to creating an inquiry-based science curriculum. He also served as a youth football coach at the Chicago Park District's O'Hallaren Park and volunteered as an assistant basketball coach at The Faith Community of St. Sabina.
He would later work on behalf of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. In this capacity, he was an education organizer for Albany Park's North River Commission. While serving one of America's "most ethnically-diverse neighborhoods," he helped raise more than $2.45 million in financial resources to support after-school programs and additional teacher training. He also coordinated the campaigns for dozens of neighbors to serve as Local School Council representatives.
Juris Doctor and Master in Public Policy
Pete served as an extern in the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He learned trial advocacy skills from United States District Court Judge Virginia M. Kendall. He also taught basic legal principles to students enrolled in Chicago Public Schools.
Master in Urban Planning and Policy
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 Northwestern University as a beneficiary of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. His graduate thesis was entitled: "Holistic School Reform: Understanding the Potential of Chicago's Local School Councils."
Pete enrolled at the University of Chicago as a transfer student from Concordia University Chicago. As an undergraduate, he studied abroad in Rome, Italy (2005) and Paris, France (2007). His senior thesis was entitled: "The Congressional Franking Privilege: A History of Incumbent Advantage."
Chicago Public Schools
Pete is a proud graduate of Chicago Public Schools. He was a captain on Lane Tech's football team and played baseball.