CHICAGO: Abin Kuriakose was appointed as the first-ever Executive Director of the Chicago City Council Asian American Caucus.

The Asian American Caucus is a coalition of Chicago legislators who come together to advocate on behalf of Asian communities (including the South Asian and Malayalee communities), business and health & human service organizations in the City of Chicago. On June 26, 2013, City Council Member/Alderman Ameya Pawar of Chicago’s 47th Ward (district) was joined by thirteen Chicago City Council Members to establish the Asian American Caucus. 

City Council Member/Alderman Ameya is the first-ever Asian American and Indian American elected to the Chicago City Council. Abin’s appointment as Executive Director is a volunteer position at the service of the community; he currently works full-time for Cook County Government.  

Abin is tasked by the Caucus Chair to build capacity of the caucus – which vision includes working with Chicago City Council Members to address issues facing Asian communities in City of Chicago, which includes: language access, public health concerns and business licensing. The Caucus will partner with organizations who work on advocacy, health, human services, education and business in the Asian-American communities. 

Currently, Abin Kuriakose is Public Policy Director for Tenth District Commissioner Bridget Gainer of the Cook County Board of Commissioners in Chicago. Abin also serves as a member of the Wilson Clinic Community Advisory Board of Heartland Health Centers and the Junior Board of Directors for the Central Lakeview Merchants Association in Chicago. He was also a contributor for the young professional working group of the Asian Giving Circle Chicago, an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust. 

He also serves as a National Youth Coordinator for the Saint Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago USA. His home parish is the Mar Thoma Shleeha Syro Malabar Catholic Cathedral of Bellwood (Chicago), Illinois.