Martin Kraft

Growing up in a small town on the cusp of the Chicago suburbs gave me a unique childhood. In my early years, I spent most of my time in the woods, by the time I was entering my teen years, my town had been absorbed into the suburban sprawl that extended to Chicago. I believe I was fortunate and got the best from both worlds—a strong sense of adventure while exploring nature, and enough street smarts to remain safe in populated areas. I earned my undergraduate degree, in history, from UIC. I then went on to U of I where I received my graduate degree in library and information science. I currently strive to serve underrepresented populations in my surrounding community: recently incarcerated, individuals in addiction recovery programs, individuals with digital literacy needs (often our grandparents), low income –various states of homeless populations, survivors of human trafficking, individuals with disabilities, and people living in memory care units. I cannot fathom devoting my life to a career absent of these rich encounters and opportunities that give me so much fulfillment.