Yasmeen Bankole is a Hanover Park trustee and former congressional staffer running for Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.
At the height of President Trump’s first term, Yasmeen Bankole became a congressional aide for Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois’ 8th Congressional District. Every day, Yasmeen worked to implement and support the Congressman’s efforts to combat the Trump administration's harmful actions towards working families. Within the district, Yasmeen oversaw the Congressman’s Social Security and Medicare casework portfolio, and helped seniors navigate these programs. Yasmeen also managed the Service Academy Nomination Program for prospective students interested in pursuing undergraduate college and training to prepare for careers in the U.S. military.
Most recently, Yasmeen served as Regional Director for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, where she managed congressional outreach portfolios throughout Northern Illinois. There, Yasmeen worked hard to build relationships with stakeholders and communicate the Senator’s legislation that improved the United States Postal Services, workers rights, housing, and criminal justice reform. Additionally, Yasmeen worked with municipalities, big and small, to help secure federal grants to improve their water and sewer infrastructure, roads, fire and police stations, and public spaces.
Yasmeen serves as a Trustee in the Village of Hanover Park, where she focuses her efforts on setting policies and general oversight of the Village, while also working to meet the needs and interests of her residents. In 2021, upon becoming elected, Yasmeen became the first Nigerian-American elected official in the state of Illinois and at the age of 27, the youngest Trustee in the history of the Village. Among her key accomplishments are the creation of the Water Bill Fee discount program, which has created utility bill savings for seniors and individuals with limited incomes and working with Hanover Park Police Department to create a village-wide Doorbell Camera Safety Initiative, which provides doorbell cameras to residents free-of-charge. Yasmeen also worked with community stakeholders and organized labor to pass a Responsible Bidder Ordinance and spearheaded the passing of a Welcoming Ordinance.
Born in Chicago and raised in Hanover Park, Yasmeen attended elementary schools in U-46 School District and graduated from Lake Park High School. She went on to earn a degree in Environmental Studies from SUNY-ESF/Syracuse University and a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs from the University of Denver.
Yasmeen is a lifelong public servant, with deep roots in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. The child of a librarian, Yasmeen worked at the Schaumburg Township District Library for over a decade. Serving Schaumburg area residents was Yasmeen’s first foray into public service.
