Alexa James, MS, LCSW

Chief Executive Officer
She/Her/Hers

Since stepping into her position as NAMI Chicago’s leader in 2014, Alexa James has dedicated herself to making NAMI Chicago a leading voice in the conversation around mental wellness, the challenges of the mental health system, and mental health education in Chicago and beyond. 

Prior to her work at NAMI Chicago, Alexa worked with children and adults living with mental health conditions as well as those impacted by poverty and trauma. Alexa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Loyola University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Child Development from Erickson Institute. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Illinois. 

Under Alexa’s leadership, NAMI Chicago has built partnerships extending throughout Chicago and Illinois that strengthen our community’s response to mental health. She has represented NAMI Chicago on the Police Accountability Task Force under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the COVID-19 Recovery Task Force under Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and Mayor-elect Lightfoot’s Health & Human Services Transition Committee.  

Through personal outreach and numerous appearances on local media, Alexa has grown NAMI Chicago’s presence in the community which has built the foundation for unprecedented organizational growth, particularly expanding NAMI Chicago’s Helpline, peer support, and training and education services. 

NAMI Chicago’s message is at the heart of Alexa’s leadership: that with courage and hope, we can bring healing to those who are overlooked in our mental health system, and in our society.