The May 2026 Heartbeat of the Month™ recipient is Marleen Suarez.
Suarez has worked as a civil rights attorney in private practice for 18 years after working for 20 years as a stockbroker. In the past two years, Suarez has helped over 400 undocumented immigrants who have children born in the United States create guardianship plans for their children should they be deported so the children do not end up in the foster care system. She now serves as a mentor for other lawyers starting their careers.
Previously, Suarez ran in 2012 for Illinois State Representative for District 112 losing to Dwight Kay and in 2014 for Madison County Treasurer and lost to Kurt Prenzler…