She/Her/Hers

City of Chicago

S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby is the Chief of Policy for the City of Chicago in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration. She previously served as Chair of the Cook County Human Rights Commission; Policy Director for Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s political campaign; Chief of Staff at the Chicago Foundation for Women; Chief of Policy and Advocacy for the Office of the City Clerk of Chicago; and as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney.

Umi describes herself as an author, advocate, attorney, and joyful warrior. She is a native Liberian and adopted Chicagoan. Bilingual in French and English, she is a graduate of Georgetown University and Northeastern University’s School of Law. She has spoken, written and published extensively on health equity.

She is an alumna of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ Emerging Leaders Class of 2021. A member of the US Supreme Court Bar, she has served on several boards including the Black Women’s Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, the Institute for Work & the Economy and Planned Parenthood of Illinois.