15th District

Carmelita P. Earls

My name is Carmelita Earls, born and raised in Chicago West Side. I’ve been in customer service with some form, public service my entire life. Started as a clerk in the neighborhood grocery store went to customer service representative for AT&T ended up at Chicago fire department as a firefighter. I just retired 2021 after 32 years.

I bring the institutional knowledge of being a bridge between sources, to achieve a desired outcome. As a mother of two, a grandmother of two, and a wife to husband for 34 years, I’ve learned to service situation and make sure my allegiance is for the greater good. Therefore, serving the public it’s not new to me it is a nature honor. 

Deondre Rutues

Standing up for the community in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s murder in 2012 led Deondre’ to where he is now. He’s a fierce advocate for the community in many areas, public safety being a top priority. In 2017, he was a proud supporter of CPAC (Civilian Police Accountability Council) and built relationships with many members of GAPA (Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability).

In 2018, he was one of ten community members selected to launch the pilot program, the Chicago Neighborhood Policing Initiative in the 25th district. In 2020, he had the privilege to teach Chicago police officers at the training academy. Now, he leads districts 11, 15, & 25 as a Community Engagement Specialist for New York University’s Policing Project. These experiences taught him him the necessity of accountability, service, advocacy, and leadership. He is poised to make a difference in the community by becoming an elected member of the District Council in the 15th District.

Website 

Arewa Winters

Arewa Karen Winters is running for District Council in the 15th police district. She was born and raised on Chicago’s Greater Westside by two phenomenal parents who taught her to always do her best, operate in integrity, care for others and advocate for her community, especially its most vulnerable.

She currently works as the Administrative Coordinator for the United Congress for Community and Religious Organizations (UCCRO).

On April 11, 2016 her 16-year young great nephew, Pierre Loury, was shot and killed by Chicago Police in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the westside. His death compelled her to begin a family organization ​The 411 Movement for Pierre Loury​ and join the fight for justice and police reform. The 411 Movement for Pierre Loury is a vehicle for information to keep people informed, educated and active in the fight for justice for Pierre and all families who are affected by patterns and practices of police misconduct, violence and systemic racism. She serves as a Campbell Plaintiff, which was the first group of organizations to file a lawsuit against the city of Chicago for the Consent Decree and as a lead organizer and spokesperson for Justice for Families which is a working group of Black Lives Matter Chicago. She was appointed as the first ever co chair of the Use of Force Working Group as a part of the community engagement component of the Consent Decree, who drafted recommendations for the 2021 Use of Force Policy.

She is on the board of ​Women’s All Points Bulletin​ which is a non-profit organization providing services, education and training to eradicate all forms of violence against women during police encounters and her network consists of BLM Chicago, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression, Chicago Torture Justice Center, MacArthur Justice Center, NAACP Westside & Southside Chapters, and the Truth, Hope and Justice Initiative.

She is passionate about this work, dedicated to this cause and on her way to being a snowflake that has the power to shift and produce an avalanche. One of transformation that is!