Maggie Baczkowski

Maggie Baczkowski is the Founder and Board Chair of Strides for Peace.  She believes everyone has a stake in ending gun violence, and that by working together, all citizens of Chicago can be part of the solution to create a stronger, more resilient city.

Maggie founded Strides for Peace in 2014. Concerned by rising gun violence, and compelled by the tragic death of Blair Holt, Maggie took action. She started by reaching out to community organizations and grassroots leaders and asking them what they needed to be effective in the fight against gun violence.  She created the Race Against Gun Violence as a platform for nonprofit organizations to highlight their work and raise funds — bridging the business community and grassroots organizations across the city of Chicago. Since its founding, the race has expanded to include civic, nonprofit and community organizations representing a broad range of sectors and strategies all of which play a vital role in preventing gun violence.

Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Maggie has built a career in real estate in Chicago.  She is currently a top producing real estate agent with @Properties in the residential market.  Her commitment to creating and providing equal opportunities is further exemplified by her passion for mentoring young women. She also works for the Bill Nygren Foundation, which focuses on supporting educational and microfinance organizations.