March 25, 2025

City Club event description:

Join us for a discussion with City of Chicago Clerk Anna M. Valencia, who has led one of the city’s largest offices since 2017, serving over 1.2 million residents and generating $130 million annually. Valencia has focused on making government more accessible through innovative initiatives like the $3.5 million City Council Modernization effort and the CityKey program, which has provided IDs to over 80,000 residents.

With a track record of spearheading major reforms in government and public policy, including police accountability and the creation of Chicago’s first legal protection fund, Valencia will share her vision for an inclusive, transparent, and responsive city.

Speaker
Anna Valencia
Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia is a first-generation college graduate a with a focus on accessibility, transparency and equity in government. First sworn into office in January 2017, she oversees one of the largest offices in the City, serving 1.2 million Chicagoans and generating more than $130 million annually. Under Valencia’s leadership, the Office of the City Clerk prioritizes finding new and innovative ways to bring services directly to residents, improve inefficiencies, and collaborate across government in the private and public sectors.

City Club video

Under her leadership, Chicago launched its municipal ID program, known as CityKey, and expanded its access by building an online appointment and application platform. Available to all Chicago residents, this government-issued identification combines access to government, city, and private sector services into one card.

Currently, Valencia is leading a first-of-its-kind City Council Modernization effort. The plan includes an e-voting system for the Chicago City Council, the first major U.S. city to implement e-voting, increasing transparency in government and holding public officials accountable. Continuing the trend of modernizing government, the City Clerk’s Office updated its e-commerce platform, EzBuy. As Clerk, Valencia also serves as a Trustee on the Chicago Fire Pension Board and Chairs the “Chicago With You” taskforce. Clerk Valencia also created the Chicago Status of Women and Girls Working Group, began Fines and Fees reform, and launched the Next Gen City Council youth civic engagement program.