Dennis Deer

Born and raised on Chicago’s west side, Dr. Dennis Deer is a servant-leader, passionately dedicated to the North Lawndale community, who works collaboratively to impact positive change. Serving as commissioner of Cook County’s 2nd district since 2017, Deer has a long history of community service, having worked extensively with local community organizations on employment and training, re-entry, economic development, affordable housing, healthcare, and education. He is the founder of Deer Rehab Services and Law Enforcement Family Training Services, both of which offer full-service training for ex-offenders, as well as , curriculum design, and consulting services. Deer is a certified rehabilitation counselor, licensed clinical professional counselor, clinically certified forensic counselor, and a certified corrective thinking therapist. He’s also an Illinois Law Enforcement Standards and Training board-certified instructor, and as a cognitive restructuring national trainer.

Deer serves on several not-for-profit and community boards including the Strategic Human Services and North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, which he co-founded. He was also appointed to the Illinois Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Advisory Council (DVAC)’s Partner Abuse Intervention Programs Subcommittee and its Executive Steering Committee, and he is the vice president of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence.