Undercover Congressman

Since taking office in 2009, I have worked alongside fifth district residents in dozens of jobs so that I can better understand the challenges my constituents face on a daily basis. In D.C., we hear a lot about numbers, data and statistics, but it's a totally different thing when you hear about the impact policy and legislation is making in your district firsthand.

I've enjoyed going "undercover" in many business ranging from delivering mail to making pinball machines to working as a car hop at Superdawg. Below is a full list of the places where I have gone "undercover."

You can read more about my "undercover" visits in articles published by the New York Times, Inside Booster and Roll Call.

Connecting with Students

• Explored the secrets of flight by building parachutes with kids in the Adler Planetarium's Planet X Lab (2015)
• Assisted students at Loyola University Chicago's financial aid desk (2012)
• Conducted the school band at Bateman Elementary School (2011)
• Served as a Principal for a day at Bateman Elementary School (2010)
• Tried the cafeteria food with students at Ravenswood School (2010)

Working in the Kitchen

• Filled barrels of Gillian, a Belgian style farmhouse ale, at Goose Island Beer Company (2016)
• Decorated sweet treats in preparation for the holidays at Bittersweet Pastry Shop (2014)
• Worked alongside the hardworking crew at Half Acre Beer Company (2014)
• Assisted the bakers in making tasty treats at Dinkel's Bakery (2013)
• Worked in the kitchen at HB Jones (2013)
• Helped in the catering and housekeeping departments at Oak Brook Marriott Hotel (2013)
• Toured the Vienna Beef headquarters and served up sandwiches at the Café (2012)
• Delivered pizza with Leona's (2011)
• Made cheesecake in the Eli's Cheesecake kitchen (2010)
• Worked at Nuts on Clark (2010)
• Served slices of pizza at Al & Joe's in Franklin Park (2010)
• Learned how to make a proper Chicago hot dog and be a carhop at Superdawg (2010)
• Bussed tables at Connie's in Elmwood Park (2010)

Working On the Line

• Operated the sticking machine and helped cook caramel at the Affy Tapple factory (2015)
• Packaged BUTTERFINGERS® candy bars with employees at Nestlé USA’s factory in Franklin Park (2015)
• Worked on the assembly line at Apollo Plastics (2015)
• Assisted employees to manufacture parts at A.M. Castle & Co. (2014)
• Worked as a furnace metal pourer and chemist (2013)
• Measured and cut sustainable, recycled granite at Earthstone Midwest (2012)
• Assembled industrial pumps at Graymills Manufacturing (2011)
• Manufactured parts at the Stern Pinball factory – the only pinball machine factory left in the world! (2010)
• Worked the printing presses and leaned about sustainable practices at Consolidated Printing (2010)
• Made candy at the Mars Factory (2010)
• Worked and toured at Phoenix Electric (2010)

Up Close and Personal with the Animals 

• Assisted volunteers in caring for dogs and cats at PAWS Chicago (2012)
• Trained sea lions and baby beluga whales at the Shedd Aquarium (2012)
• Participated in a training session at Pits for Patriots (2012)
• Served as a beekeeper and animal feeder at Notebaert Museum (2011)
• Cleaned the rhino pen at the Lincoln Park Zoo (2010)

Serving in the Community

• Worked alongside horticulturalists at the Lincoln Park Conservatory in honor of Earth Day (2016)
• Conducted mock interview for A Safe Haven Foundation's job readiness class (2016)
• Prepared the stage and checked the lights and sound as a production assistant for Timeline Theatre Company (2015)
• Packed meals for seniors with volunteers at Meals on Wheels (Numerous)
• Produced military themed apparel at Rags of Honor alongside veterans (2014)
• Worked the line at Greater Chicago Food Depository by labeling canned goods (2012)
• Volunteered at Lakeview Pantry during the Thanksgiving holiday (Numerous)
• Read stories to children at Children's Memorial Hospital as part of SERVE Illinois (2012)
• Served beer with Lakeview Citizens Council at Wrigleyville's SausageFest (2011)
• Traded in his suit for scrubs for a shift at Illinois Masonic Hospital (2011)
• Greeted guests and veterans at A Safe Haven, a facility helping those affected by homelessness, addiction, and unemployment (2011)
• Assisted veterans and handed out Valentines to guests at the Jesse Brown VA Hospital (2011)
• Distributed food packages to clients at Lakeview Pantry (2010)

Understanding Operations

• Visited a Fire Station in Chicago to understand the daily duties of firefighters (2016)
• Worked as a studio mechanic at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the set of NBC's Chicago Fire. (2016)
• Operated the combine at Steve Ruh's farm in Sugar Grove to better understand Illinois corn production (2015)
• Collected tickets and was an usher at Wrigley Field (2015)
• Fully serviced Redbox machines across Chicagoland (2015)
• Provided the traffic reports on morning drive time radio with Don Wade & Roma and the news team at WLS-AM (2010)
• Visited Norfolk Southern's Chicago operation to experience working on the rail road (2010)
• Delivered packages with UPS (2010)
• Joined a United Postal Service mail carrier for a delivery route (2010)

Keeping Our Neighborhoods Clean

• Collected and loaded recyclable materials alongside the crew at Blue Cart Recycling (2014)
• Worked as a treatment plant operator at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (2014)
• Swept the streets with 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney (2011)
• Discussed water infrastructure & water main maintenance with WMRD in Lakeview (2010)
• Hopped on a garbage truck for a shift with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (2010)
• Went fishing for Asian Carp with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (2010)
• Helped the staff at Neumann Neighbors with lawn care, street cleaning, carpentry work, and maintenance (2010)  

If you would like Congressman Quigley to go "undercover" with you, please contact Amanda Crane in our office. We will do our best to honor as many requests as scheduling permits.