Esther Franco-Payne

Esther Franco-Payne joined the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities as its inaugural Executive Director in December 2021. Her personal commitment is to serve as a voice for underserved communities of color and be a champion for equity. Growing up in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, Esther was front and center to issues that permeate communities impacted by crime, poverty and disinvestment. A social worker by training, she is an advocate who has engaged the public in development of effective adult criminal justice and youth justice policies. 

Esther was Executive Director of Cabrini Green Legal Aid, leading the organization’s strategy, management and fundraising. Through her work with CGLA, Esther amplified CGLA’s impact throughout Illinois. She also held senior leadership roles with the Public Welfare Foundation and the Illinois Justice Project, where she was co-founder and Deputy Director. Esther served for ten years as a member of the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission; was appointed co-chair of the Families Committee in support of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice’s Advancing Transformation Task Force; and participated on the Cook County Equity Fund Taskforce. She was a lead advocate in the fight for equity as part of the Cannabis Act and participated in efforts to advance public safety and remove barriers to employment, education and housing for those impacted by the criminal legal system. 

Previously, Esther worked for Chicago Metropolis 2020 and Metropolis Strategies where she was a staff member with the Justice and Violence Group, the predecessor to the Illinois Justice Project. Previous employers include the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention and the Circuit Court of Cook County Family Violence Coordinating Councils. 

Esther has a master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She’s a Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago and an alum of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program.