photo by steed media service

The city of Chicago is lucky to have people in high places who serve as voices for the community. Assisting Mayor Richard M. Daley is no easy task, but Sean Harden, executive assistant to the Mayor, is up to the challenge. “I have the opportunity to be a liaison to the African American community,” explains Harden. “In that role, I get to interface with a number of people.” More than that, Harden operates as a conduit between all of Chicago’s hard-working citizens and the most powerful man in the city.

“Working with the mayor is the exciting part,” says Harden. “The most challenging thing is [there are] so many demands throughout the city. You have to prioritize which one to do first. He’s a man that requires you to always be on your toes no matter what.” Harden has been more than up to the day-to-day challenges in Chicago, and encourages citizens to be aware of what’s happening in their city and their community. “If you’re not at the table and aren’t aware of the issues going in the community, you just react to them instead of becoming part of the solution,” he advises.

Having been in Chicago his entire life, Harden takes a special joy in being help his neighbors. “At the end of the day, when someone has reached out [with] an issue or challenge or desire to do something, I’ve been able to help them along the way. My value is judged by the number of people I’m able to help,” explains Harden. “[I love] the friendliness, and the ability to relate across the board. It’s a very diverse city — you can have just about any flavor you want!” - todd williams

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