William Smiljanic-Perez
Chicago,Illinois
Summary
A collaborative community organizer, urban planner, and housing practitioner with over 25 years of experience driving impactful education, civic engagement, and neighborhood stabilization initiatives across Chicago. Combines deep academic grounding in housing policy and gentrification with hands-on, practical expertise in cooperative housing governance and multi-family operations. A natural ecosystem builder and skilled facilitator recognized for translating complex technical concepts into accessible, community-driven action. Deeply committed to racial and economic justice, with a proven track record of preserving affordable units, designing innovative tenant-to-owner transitions, and rescuing distressed housing cooperative structures to secure permanent community control.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Board President & Restructuring Lead
Chicago Family Housing Community
Humboldt Park, Illinois
01.2025 - Current
- Lead a comprehensive organizational relaunch, actively spearheading the rewriting of organizational bylaws, reforming democratic governance structures, and recruiting a new, resident/member-led board of directors.
- Led governance restructuring to prevent default and foreclosure for distressed 6-unit limited-equity housing cooperative facing total member vacancy and litigation from a former member.
- Partnered with volunteer board members over the past year to successfully stabilize the cooperative's finances and preserve all six units of vital affordable housing in Humboldt Park and the West Side.
- Executed strategic operational pivot during active litigation, transitioning recruitment model to secure community-oriented renters as pipeline for future cooperative member share purchases.
Multi-Family Property Owner & Asset Manager
Self-employed
Chicago, Illinois
01.2003 - Current
- Direct all operational, financial, and interpersonal aspects of a 6-unit multi-family residential property portfolio on the Northwest Side of Chicago, prioritizing long-term asset preservation and community-centered housing stability.
- Oversaw capital planning, annual budgeting, vendor procurement, and ensured compliance with Chicago housing codes and tenant protection laws.
- Managed 3-unit multi-family property on West Side, designed and initiated tenant buyout strategy, transitioning asset into limited-equity housing cooperative before sale.
- Cultivated trusted relationships with diverse tenant populations, employing proactive communication and collaborative problem-solving to maintain high retention of legacy residents.
School Librarian & Instructional Leader
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, Illinois
01.2000 - Current
- Designed and launched comprehensive school-wide library and digital literacy program that serves diverse Pre-K through 8th-grade student body, fostering digital equity.
- Develop and execute inquiry-based curricula focused on civic engagement, critical thinking, and local history, empowering young residents to understand and engage with their urban environments.
- Collaborated with administrators, educators, and community partners to align instructional goals with strategic initiatives, enhancing educational outcomes.
Teacher & Strategic School Leader
Scammon Elementary School
01.2000 - 01.2025
- Led foundational instructional and organizational initiatives for 25 years in diverse Chicago neighborhood school, adapting to complex and evolving educational landscapes to enhance student outcomes.
- Spearheaded long-term continuous improvement initiatives, including curriculum overhauls and strategic school improvement planning, integrating high-level visioning with hands-on execution to drive educational effectiveness.
- Participated in core governance bodies, including Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) and Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) Committee, influencing schoolwide resource allocation and strategic direction to support academic goals.
Education
Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) - Community Development, Housing Policy, Gentrification, & Neighborhood Planning
University of Illinois Chicago
Library & Information Specialist (LIS) -
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Education
Wheaton College
Skills
- Affordable Housing Ownership & Management
- Limited-Equity Housing Cooperatives
- Cooperative Governance & Bylaw Reform
- Urban Planning and Housing Policy
- Community Wealth Building
- Coalition & Relationship Building
- Stakeholder Collaboration
- High-Stakes Project Management
- Intergenerational Education & Cross-Cultural Group Facilitation
- System & Pipeline Design
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Technology: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite, Data Analysis, Presentation & Narrative Development, Social Media
Additional Housing Advocacy & Research
- Housing Advocate & Researcher | Chicago, Illinois
- Conducted advanced graduate-level research on displacement, gentrification, and equitable development, focusing on actionable policy levers to preserve community-controlled housing and retail districts in Humboldt Park.
- Forged strong, values-aligned networks with Chicago based housing practitioners (LUCHA, Hispanic Housing, Palenque LSNA, piHco), advocacy coalitions, and civic leaders to exchange best practices on community wealth building.
Professional Licenses & Technical Skills
Licenses: Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with multiple specialized endorsements.
Timeline
Board President & Restructuring Lead
Chicago Family Housing Community
01.2025 - Current
Multi-Family Property Owner & Asset Manager
Self-employed
01.2003 - Current
School Librarian & Instructional Leader
Chicago Public Schools
01.2000 - Current
Teacher & Strategic School Leader
Scammon Elementary School
01.2000 - 01.2025
Master of Urban Planning and Policy (MUPP) - Community Development, Housing Policy, Gentrification, & Neighborhood Planning
University of Illinois Chicago
Library & Information Specialist (LIS) -
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Education
Wheaton College