Michael W. Scott Jr.
Director of Industry and Community Relations  
Cinespace Studios Chicago  

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A native of the North Lawndale neighborhood, Scott has focused his life’s work on creating strong resilient communities, specifically on the West Side of Chicago. Scott resides in North Lawndale with his wife, Natashee and three children, Morgan, Nicholas, and Michael III. Scott graduated from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in 1994 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morehouse College in 1998.

Through his parents, the late Michael, Sr., and Millicent Scott, both prominent leaders in the city of Chicago, Scott was raised into a legacy of family service and building successful communities. Bringing resources and developmental programming to the underserved, Scott, Jr. has proven to be a results-driven leader in the public and private sectors.

Scott served for 12 years at the Chicago Park District, where he worked as a Park Supervisor at the Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center and later as the Area Manager for the Central Region, managing 35 staffed and unstaffed facilities.

Scott was elected to the Chicago City Council in 2015 as the 24th Ward Alderman. Scott worked side by side with the people and organizations of his community to build a solid foundation for the ward. During his tenure, Scott beautified the community, devoted over 300 million dollars to capital and human infrastructure, and developed job training programs for ward residents. In 2019, Scott was appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Child Welfare and served in that role until he retired from public service in 2022.  

Scott currently serves as the Director of Industry and Community for Cinespace Studios Chicago where he provides strategic management for industry and community relations and develops local philanthropic and early education programs for Chicago. Scott oversees Cinespace’s successful job training program, providing, residents on Chicago’s
West and South sides with hands-on experience in below-the-line departments including electric, prop, costumes, locations, and sound for production filming at the studio. The program is part of CineCares, a division of the studio dedicated to building initiatives that promote equity and inclusion in the film and TV industry in communities where the platform operates. 

Scott also recently served as a member of the Chicago Board of Education