Planned Parenthood of Illinois Welcomes First Latina and Youngest Board Chair

CHICAGO - On July 1, 2024, Arielle Rodriguez Maffei, 35, became the youngest and first Latina Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) Board Chair in the organization’s 100-year history. Maffei steps into the Board Chair role at a crucial moment, two years after Roe was overturned and Illinois is increasing its status as a haven state for sexual and reproductive health care. 

“I’m incredibly proud and excited to take this leadership role with Planned Parenthood of Illinois,” Maffei said. “My passion for health care began when I learned my grandmother was denied access to the reproductive health care she needed and deserved in Cuba 60 years ago. She faced tough choices that no one should have to endure. It’s disheartening that now history is repeating itself as people from across the United States are forced from their home to obtain essential health care like abortion and gender-affirming care. As a first-generation American and the proud daughter of her Cuban immigrant single mom, I feel it is my duty to fight for everyone to have equitable access to sexual and reproductive health care.”

Maffei’s background is in advocacy and politics. She worked as a White House scheduling and advanced intern under President Obama, with President Clinton to advance the mission of the Clinton Foundation and is the founding president of the Young Democrats of Chicago and past president of the Young Democrats of Illinois. She was the in-house government affairs associate for Simmons Hanly Conroy, a nationally-recognized law firm that represents families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancers. Maffei then served as vice president of Alexander, Borovicka, & O’Shea Government Solutions where she supported multiple client accounts. Maffei recently served as a Vice President at McGuireWoods Consulting where she used her experience and knowledge of the political landscape to provide clients with recommendations and guidance on legislative issues. 

“I’m looking forward to working with Arielle for numerous reasons,” said Jennifer Welch, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois. “At a time when sexual and reproductive health care is under attack more than ever, we need a strong leader to head our Board of Directors. Arielle’s high energy and expertise will ensure we are meeting our patients’ needs for years to come.” 

Maffei represented Illinois as an at-large delegate at the 2020 National Democratic Convention and is a member of the prestigious Illinois Women’s Institute of Leadership (IWIL) Training Academy Class of 2020 and serves on the Alumni Engagement Committee. Maffei graduated from Vanderbilt University, and has a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Northwestern University.

As the PPIL Board Chair, Maffei will lead the Board to govern all 18 health centers across the state as well as telehealth services. PPIL is experiencing a 47% increase in overall abortion care patients since Roe was overturned in 2022 and an unprecedented number of out-of-state patients traveling from 41 different states making up nearly a quarter (25%) of our overall abortion patients (before Roe was overturned it was 3-5%). 

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Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) provides affordable, high-quality reproductive health care services and medically accurate sexual health education. Through medical services, educational programs and advocacy efforts, PPIL works to ensure and protect the reproductive rights of each individual. For more information, visit www.ppil.org.

Media Contacts:

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Celeste Sanchez/[email protected]

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