About Us

The mission of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans is to ensure social and economic justice and full civil rights for all citizens so that they may enjoy dignity, personal fulfillment and family security as senior citizens. The Alliance endeavors to give older and retired persons the opportunity to strive to create a society that incorporates these goals and rights during their retirement, allowing them to pursue new and expanded activities with their unions, civic organizations and their communities.

A primary objective of the Alliance is to enroll and mobilize retired union members and other senior and community activists into a nationwide grassroots movement advocating a progressive political and social agenda – one that respects work and strengthens families. The long-term goal of the Alliance is to become the voice for all older Americans. By engaging in important political battles to protect and preserve programs vital to the health and economic security of older Americans, the Alliance will gain recognition as the country’s leading progressive grassroots senior organization.

In pursuit of these values, the Alliance will:

Build a strong organization in Illinois of seniors with a viable structure, ample resources and clear objectives – a structure compatible with that of the labor movement and community-based groups at local, state and national levels.

Create programs and membership organizations designed to promote a commitment by retired workers and older persons to the concept of lifelong participation in their unions, and in their community, political and civic organizations.

Encourage all segments of the senior population to act with unity on legislative, political and policy issues of importance to retirees and their families in order to maximize their influence on federal, state and local governments and on private organizations that affect their interests.