Interview conducted by CWIP member, Shruti Saxena

One of my favorite things is when different worlds collide, so you can imagine my delight when the Communications committee at Chicago Women In Philanthropy (CWIP) asked me about spotlighting the CWIP Board Co-Chairs for an upcoming newsletter and the blog. I met Margaret Jones for the first time at the CWIP annual breakfast, and more recently at the WLMP 2024-25 Cohort Welcome Dinner - one of the many incredible CWIP initiatives, and something that brings me professional joy through my involvement.   

I start by asking her about her early interests and careers, and she tells me that she attended University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she started her bachelor's degree in Political Science and completed it at Loyola University in Chicago. One of the most pivotal professional experiences of her life was interning for U.S. Senator Alan J Dixon on a project focused on international child parental abduction. This had her reaching out to diplomats to facilitate connections, and deeply understand the complexities and challenges of the work. 

Her childhood was deeply rooted in education. She attended the Ancona School in Hyde Park and later enrolled in both Chicago Catholic and public schools. Her aunt, a respected educator, played a significant role in shaping her educational journey.

She initially planned to attend law school with the goal of becoming an attorney. However, her career path took a turn during graduate school when she interned at the Civic Federation, a taxpayer advocacy organization. This experience deepened her passion for public service and policy work. She credits her former boss, Toni Hartrich, for inspiring her dedication to the public sector. It was through her mentor, Marsha Howard, that Margaret was introduced to the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA).

She has now been with the CHA for 25 years and throughout her career, Margaret has been dedicated to building bridges between the agency and communities to foster collaboration and create meaningful impact..

In early 2000’s she began her board service with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Metro Chicago Leadership Board, where she held the role of program chair. In this capacity, she worked to secure funding to support vulnerable youth, driven by the belief that one action could profoundly change the trajectory of a young person’s life. That partnership transcended into a four-year relationship where the CHA had two workplace mentoring programs.This program was championed by the former CHA CEO Gene Jones, a former Big who realized the importance of having mentoring activities. 

Margaret continued her board service with the Chicago Community Trust’s Young Leaders Fund, where she served as a Childhood Development & Education Co-Chair and ultimately Grants Chair. Later, she joined the Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP) Board after learning candidates could self-nominate themselves for board positions. She actively served on the GIRLS, Programs and Annual Luncheon committees before taking on a leadership role on the Annual Luncheon committee significantly increasing overall revenues and attendance in 2023 & 2024. Two years into her tenure, a former CWIP Board Co-Chair encouraged her to step into the role of secretary.

Born and raised in Chicago, she has an unshakable love for the city and its vibrant, resilient communities. As the daughter of two devoted public servants—her father, a state police officer, and her mother, a nurse—she grew up inspired by their tireless commitment to helping others. They instilled in her a work ethic and sense of purpose that has fueled her 25-year journey with the Chicago Housing Authority. Every day, she is driven by a passion to uplift our city's most vulnerable residents, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities they deserve. Her work is not just a career—it is a reflection of her belief in Chicago’s potential to be a place where every individual can thrive. Margaret will be transitioning into her new role as Director, Resident and Public Engagement with the Authority.

Margaret’s professional development has been shaped by mentors such as Nicole Johnson Scales, a former banking executive who became an executive coach. Nicole’s leadership course helped accomplished professionals reflect on their career journeys, explore paths to greater purpose, and build supportive networks for meaningful career growth. When Nicole attended the flagship annual CWIP luncheon and expressed how delighted she was with Margaret, it marked a full-circle moment in Margaret’s career.

She envisions broadening CWIP’s impact by growing and diversifying its membership, launching its grant-making and volunteer service initiatives, amplifying the voices of its members, and collaborating with local universities to offer executive education opportunities. Additionally, she aims to foster deeper, ongoing relationships with philanthropic leaders to extend the partnership beyond the annual luncheon.

Both her career and her work with CWIP demonstrate her steadfast dedication to collaboration, community impact, and empowering others.