Oct. 23 – Get Out the Vote: March to the Polls

Get Out the Vote program slides gotv.
Program video recording.

Election 2024 will be a historic election! Imagine electing the first woman president! This is also the first presidential election since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Over 167 million women have had their rights diminished. Will their voices be heard? In addition, the Equal Rights Amendment has not been published. We must continue our advocacy of equity for all women.

Let’s mobilize voters for a huge turnout for this historic election. Let’s review our AAUW values and how to evaluate candidates. We’ll discuss why this election is especially important for women and our AAUW mission of equity. Discussion will include how to talk to neighbors about the election.
Presenter: Elaine Fisher, Northwest Suburban President & Public Policy Chair

Sept. 2024: Truth, Trust & Turnout: Navigating Elections,
Civic Engagement, and Disinformation

Dr. Suzanne Chod, Professor of Political Science at North Central College in Naperville explored the relations between political trust, polarization, and disinformation and its effects on elections and democracy. Specifically, she provided details on the calculated use of disinformation as a means to divide us further and erode democratic norms. Dr. Chod spent time breaking down what we can do to spot and combat disinformation in the current election cycle and beyond.

Program recording link.

March 2024: In Support of Open Membership

Forty four members of AAUW attended the AAUW-IL program, In Support of Open Membership to prepare to vote in April on the proposed AAUW Membership bylaws amendment that removes the requirement of a degree to become an AAUW member.
Discussion moderator: AAUW-IL President Donna Jean Simon
Panelists: AAUW Lisa Cherry (former AAUW-Il President)
Nancy Shoemaker, co-founder of grassroots organization OpenUpAAUW.org

This amendment will open our membership to anyone who supports our mission of equity for all women and girls through research, education, and advocacy. The AAUW national board and AAUW-IL state board support this amendment.

We learned about the benefits and the importance of opening membership and why the time is right to take this action. The answers to many questions were provided. Program recording.
Presentation: Why Are We Here branch

Public Policy: Protecting Public Schools and Libraries

AAUW IL was part of organizing and participating in a coalition to protect public education and libraries by defeating Moms for Liberty candidates. Moms for Liberty, an organization that had $20+ million to elect school and library candidates that opposed LGBTQ+ and racial inclusive school curriculum and had advocated for book bans.

Our coalition and the work of active AAUW branch members proved to be very successful in many of the school and library board 2023 elections. However, the threat to public education is still present. Learn what the coalition accomplished and understand what needs to be done to prepare for future races. Program recording.

Feb. 2024: A Community’s Guide to Human Trafficking
Presenter: Elisa Munoz

Jan. 2024: Paid Family & Medical Leave

AAUW IL has been working on a bill to provide insurance for folks to take paid medical and family leave. One of the reasons that women have less earning power and fewer retirement resources is that often, it is the woman who leaves the job force to care for ailing parents, in-laws, siblings, partners, and children. This legislation, when passed, will allow all workers to take paid family and medical leave.
 
Sarah Labadie, of Women Employed, will share the ups and downs of getting this complicated legislation passed. Developing and passing legislation is how we get AAUW values working for everyone. Link to the program recording.

Sarah Labadie has expertise in various issues, such as paid sick days, postsecondary education and training, fair wages and schedules, and work and family. A member of the Women Employed staff since 2008, Sarah promotes the passage and effective implementation of laws and regulations at the local, state, and federal levels that improve the economic status of women and remove barriers to economic equity. She has spearheaded the campaign to pass paid sick days legislation and led an effort to create a unified definition of career pathways in Illinois.

Dec. 2023: Did You Say Books and PJ’s? Count Me In!

The Northwest Suburban AAUW branch program will be a casual, social get together via Zoom, Did You Say Books and PJ’s? Count Me In! Wear your holiday PJ’s or your holiday sweater and plan to share one (or maybe two) of your favorite books with all of us that you have read in 2023. It can be a novel, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, non-fiction or even poetry; your choice-your favorite.

November 2023: AAUW Fellows & Grantees

The AAUW Chicago Branch, in partnership with the Jane Addams Branch, is once again hosting a virtual meeting via Zoom to showcase three AAUW Fellows and Grantees. If you missed the program; here’s the link to the recording. https://youtu.be/HT2eSROO0so

This year’s presenters include:
Seyma Kabaoglu   International Fellowship, Turkey
Northwestern University
Cultural anthropology: Ph.D., Cultural anthropology
Ms. Kabaoglu is conducting an ethnographic study of politics of doubt and ethical finance in Turkey’s Islamic participation banking industry.

Dana Fanslow  Career Development Grant
University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Library sciences: M.S., Social Justice & Administration
Ms. Fanslow’s work consists of educating others that literary collections, programs, and physical spaces should reflect that the world is not one-dimensional so individuals can learn about themselves, as well as others.

September 2023: Barbie & Ken; Gender Roles Discussion

Have you seen the Barbie movie?  Did it change your mind about the roles of men and women?
Does Barbie discover her true purpose? How would you describe the movie? a gleeful escape, a laugh out loud comedy or a battle cry. What aspects did you enjoy most? music, costumes, production, or drama?  What was the influence of director/co-writer, Greta Gerwig?
Is Ken a helpless pawn in Barbieland? Let’s talk about it.
Here’s an interesting article. Join us for a discussion. https://www.psychologytoday.com/…/what-the-movie-barbie…

Program recordings, Part 1 Movie Reviews and Part 2 Movie Discussion. Barbie Ken discussion questions. Dream Reads Bookworm Barbie Needs  to read for follow-up discussion. If you have any questions, please contact Kate Skegg, at aauwJaneAddams@gmail.com

August: Teaching Civics; Why It is Important

Let’s talk about the importance of civics education in our US schools!
Our national report card shows that we are not doing a good job teaching US history and civics, and that is not preparing our students to be active citizens. Understanding how our government works, our rights and responsibilities as citizens, and the importance of active participation in our democracy is crucial to maintaining a healthy society. An informed and engaged citizenry is the cornerstone of a vibrant democracy. Link to the presentation recording.

Civics education is the foundation upon which informed and engaged citizens are built. It empowers us to make well-informed decisions, hold our elected officials accountable, and actively contribute to shaping our communities.

That’s why we invite you to join us for an enlightening presentation on how we can improve civics education in our schools. Our presenter, Ed Spire, looks into these issues and focuses on the newly created Educating for American Democracy Roadmap, which points the way to improving this important area of education.

Ed Spire is co-lead of NWSOFA’s Restore our Democracy project, where they focus on issues regarding the effectiveness of the US democracy. Mr. Spire recently retired from a lengthy career in software engineering management, for companies both small and large, public and private, local and international.

July 2023: Banned Book Fahrenheit 451

Nearly seventy years after its original publication, Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 stands as a classic of world literature set in a bleak, dystopian future. The main character, Guy Montag is a fireman. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Today, its message has grown more relevant than ever before.

As if ripped from today’s headlines involving book banning and removals from public libraries in the US and elsewhere, Gloria McMillan will be talking about the origin of Ray Bradbury’s novel (and film adaptation) Fahrenheit 451. Fahrenheit 451 has been translated into at least 33 languages and is read in classrooms around the world as a cautionary tale against book and thought censorship. Program recording link.

May 2023 The Power of Storytelling

You are invited to see the recording.  You show other people who you are and what you represent every time you communicate with them. When who you are and what you represent appeals to others, you can influence them and even change their lives. Our program presenter, Suzie Garfield, addresses how to use stories and the storyteller’s toolkit to revisit, review, and, if you care to, revamp how you show other people who you are and what you represent. VoiceWorksheet.

Dr. Susan A. Garfield has decades of experience in the worlds of business, technology, education, and performance. As a computer programmer, teacher, trainer, storyteller, coach, and mentor, she faces any question or challenge with an exploratory, agile, “yes-and” approach. Suzie currently speaks, consults, and otherwise applies story to promote personal and professional effectiveness.

Suzie holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mathematics and in Literature, a Ph.D. in Humanities/Comparative Literature, an MBA, and certification as a PMP (Project Management Professional). In both her personal and professional life, she has seen again and again how intention, expression, and interpretation converge to support and to subvert relationships, outcomes, and results.

April 2023, Raising Awareness of Diversity and Inclusion

Deanie Brown, presenter, is an attorney and the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Illinois Supreme Court in Springfield. She has been an associate chancellor, chief of staff, and director of HR and internal relations at universities in Illinois, California, and New Orleans, and serves on several boards supporting equity, education, the community, and the arts. A member of AAUW Springfield, Deanie was honored as the 2022 AAUW Agent of Change at the AAUW Illinois State Conference.

In addition to speaking about raising awareness, Deanie will explore the concept of “allyship”: how to become an ally and developing the skills for responding to a situation that requires a “Stand Up, Speak Out” response.   Deanie will also highlight the harms that persist when we don’t prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and opportunity.

This Zoom event is co-sponsored by the Downers Grove Area AAUW, the Elmhurst Area AAUW, the Naperville Area AAUW, and the Jane Addams AAUW statewide branch. Join with your local AAUW branches for a special program on using “allyship” to promote diversity, inclusion and belonging in a nonprofit setting.

March 2023 Pay Equity & Workplace Fairness: How Are We Doing?

This program will answer the question of how are we doing on pay equity. The panelists will share their experience in the workplace, how they overcame challenges and share resources that women can use to overcome workplace inequity. In conclusion, we’ll focus on what we need to do next.
Presentation slides: Pay Equity panel

Program recording link.

Panel Moderator: Christine Kuffel, Assoc. Professor Library Science, Harper Community College, member of the Jane Addams branch.
Lizzy Diaz-Ortiz, VP, Senior Manager, Latinx Segment at BMO and formerly VP, Governance & Inclusion for BMO, Chicago attorney leading diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, 19-year veteran of corporate America, subject matter expert for affirmative action, equal employment opportunity, and federal civil rights laws.
Toni L. Dupree is a retired military member of the US Navy. She retired with 21 years of Honorable service. She is employed at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as Security Specialist in St Louis, MO. She has been a federal employee and a federal contractor. She is Regional Manager of Federal Employed Women.
Corinne Kodama, Senior Research Analyst, Women Employed. She is a former Research Specialist and Visiting Lecturer at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and was the founding Associate Director of UIC’s Asian American Resource and Cultural Center.

Any questions, contact Kate Skegg by email aauwjaneaddams@gmail.com

Feb. 2023 –  Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick

Join us in this engaging program with the author, Andrea Friederici Ross. Link to recording.

The book’s thrilling story of a daughter of America’s foremost industrialist, John D. Rockefeller, is complete with sex, money, mental illness, and opera divas—and a woman who strove for the independence to make her own choices. Rejecting the limited gender role carved out for her by her father and society, Edith Rockefeller McCormick forged her own path, despite push-back from her family and ultimate financial ruin.

Dec.  2022: Favorite Book Reviews or The Book I Wish to Read Again for the First Time

Branch members will select a favorite book to share by providing a mini review. Reviews will include type of book, such as novel, memoir, mystery, non-fiction, humor, romance or sci-fi/fantasy, and time period, author background and synopsis of book (not giving away the story). You can also include reading a favorite passage.

Nov. 2022  AAUW Fellows & Grantees

The Chicago Branch, in partnership with the Jane Addams Branch, is once again hosting a virtual meeting via Zoom to showcase three AAUW Fellows and Grantees. Program recording

This year’s presenters include:
   Xiao (Angel) Bohannon, recipient of an American Fellowship for graduate study at Northwestern University to complete her PhD. Her project is “Attending to Leadership Attention: School Leadership during COVID.”
   Monica Reyes, American Fellowship recipient, to study writing, rhetoric and discourse at DePaul University. Her project is “Shelter Rhetorics: Understanding Narrative Pathways and Assemblages of the U.S. Asylum Process.”
   Chinyere E. Oteh, used her Career Development Grant to pursue an M.L.S. degree at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. She is interested in providing library access to information, preservation and resources for under-served populations.

The AAUW Funds—as one of the world’s largest sources of funding exclusively for graduate women—supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented. AAUW has been a leading source of funding, providing more than $115 million in fellowships and grants to more than 13,000 women and organizations in the US and around the world.
Sponsored by Chicago Inc. branch in partnership with the Jane Addams Online branch of AAUW.
For more information, contact chicagoaauw@hotmail.com or http://chicago-il.aauw.net/

Oct. 2022  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Our Path

This engaging program explores resources available to expand your understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion. Dr. Donna Kiel will share her personal development story and present DEI resources available at DePaul University: Courageous Dialogues,
Build Diversity course and her RISE (Reflection, Inquiry, Self-Awareness, and Empathy) Micro-credential Program which supports educators with strategies to engage students and integrate racial equity in teaching.
Participation will help you develop your personal DEI growth path to increased understanding and empathy.
Program recording

Program speaker: Dr. Donna Kiel, the founding Director of the Office of Innovative Professional Learning in the College of Education at DePaul University and an Instructional Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership.

Sept. 2022 – Vote for Equality

Our speaker, Attorney-At-Law Michele H. Thorne, is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law. We learned about the Equal Rights Amendment, its historical progress and the current status of status of the ERA, and actions we can take to advocate to legislators and the president. Michele indicated current legislation that we can support for publishing the ERA.   Program recording link.
The ERA Coalition Elect Equality campaign provides voters with the opportunity to see where their candidates stand on the ERA.

In response to the attack on women’s rights by the US Supreme Court in June, we need to mobilize voters and register new voters! Congress can enact legislation to ensure our human rights.  Sept. 20 is Voter Registration Day. We need an historic voter turnout this election to elect pro-choice and equal rights candidates who support of issues that directly impact women, their rights and their families. Mary Fontaine of the League of Women Voters Park Ridge answered questions on voting and registering voters. Voting resource links can be found on our Advocacy page.

Recommended Book: Ordinary Equality, by kate kelly, illustrated by Nicole LaRue
We are all living through modern constitutional history in the making, and Ordinary Equality helps teach about the past, present, and future of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) through the lives of the bold, fearless women and queer people who have helped shape the U.S. Constitution.

Zoom Workshop: Building Bridges of Inclusion, Aug. 2022

Workshop by Harriet Lewis, PhD, MPA.
Dr. Harriet Lewis is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Konesens Development, a boutique consultancy that supports equity and inclusion through training and support initiatives.

This engaging mini workshop helped us explore how to use our network and spheres of influence to build bridges of inclusion and understanding. Harriet expertly guided our discussion with thought-provoking questions for our small group discussions. As participants. we gained insight and inspiration to increase empathy to connect to those in our communities who may be isolated or feeling threatened. In the process, we will understand diverse perspectives that will aid in building sustainable relationships in our communities. We highly recommend Dr Lewis to any group looking for an expert DEI facilitator.

Women at the Hague

A program presented  by Gloria McMillan. July 2022.
Women at the Hague was an International Congress of Women conference held at The Hague, Netherlands in April 1915. It had over 1,100 delegates and it established an International Committee of Women for Permanent Peace with Jane Addams as president.
Program recording:
https://youtu.be/IPvxS-YGwAM

Annual Meeting July, 2022
Election of officers, Bylaws amendments, and program planning

AAUW – Our Early Illinois Story: May, 2022

Join the Jane Addams Branch online on  May 26, 2022 for a presentation about the extraordinary women who founded the Western Association of Collegiate Alumnae, the forerunner of AAUW in Illinois.
Hear about their links to Jane Addams and the settlement movement in Chicago. Learn about trailblazers like Florence Kelley and Grace Abbott and their pursuit of social justice for immigrants and others from the 1880s to the 1920s.
Our presenter will be Ruth Holst of the Chicago Branch. Ruth serves on the state AAUW Board as the College & University Relations Director. She also serves on the national Governance Committee of AAUW.

The photo is of Marion Talbot, Dean of Women at the University of Chicago from 1895 to 1925 (image from Alchetron, the free social encyclopedia).

April 2022 Book Discussion: The Vanishing Half

March 30 2022 – What Can We Learn From Jane Addams?

Where would Jane Addams be today? Would she help dispel urban ethnic stereotypes?
This program shares the details of Jane Addams’s life at Hull-House in Chicago, how she became a nationally known woman who established a settlement house and encouraged women to voice their stories, and raises the question of what lessons we can learn that apply to today’s world.

Presenter: Gloria McMillan, Research Associate, Dept of English, The University of Arizona. Her recent edited work is The Routledge Companion to Literature and Class.

Program recording: https://youtu.be/-Ju1pQqIoL8

Image credit: Steve Simon

March 2022 – Clara Schumann, The German Virtuosa

Join German historian Anette Isaacs for an intimate look at the life of the exceptional Clara Virtuosa!  Clara was not only a divine pianist, talented composer and successful teacher, but also a mother of 8 and the main breadwinner for her family. In the very male dominated 19th century, German superwoman Clara Schumann did it all while juggling a 61 year concert career that made her internationally famous.

Feb. 2022 program: From Investigative Reporter to Master Teacher

Presenter: Alba Mendiola, a graduate student at UIC.
Experience Alba’s story – previously an investigative reporter for Telemundo Chicago, with seven regional Emmy awards, she is now a recipient of an AAUW Career Development grant to complete a Master of Arts in Teaching. Alba is a passionate advocate for media literacy and will encourage more Latina students to pursue a career in journalism.
Program Recording Link: https://youtu.be/U9wTZwjJO_c

Nov. 2021 Program: AAUW Fellows & Grantees

Meet three outstanding women, recipients of our AAUW Fellowships or Grants. Melissa Mister, Project Director, After School Matters, Ramael Ohiomoba, Selected Profession Fellowship, Jenny Lopez Alvarado, Career Development Grant.
Recording link: https://youtu.be/5TDjn36otWg

Nov. 17 Program: Sex Trafficking In Our Own Backyard

Women are 90% of victims of sex trafficking which is a form of modern slavery. Trafficking is happening right here in Chicago and the suburbs. This program will present victim statistics, how to recognize a victim, methods being used to recruit young women, and what we as community members can do to prevent trafficking.

Recording link: https://youtu.be/Bz-fwiCAWck

Presenter: Priscilla Cruz, Midwest Prevention Advocate at SelahFreedom, B.S. of Psychology, SelahFreedom, Bringing Light into the Darkness of Sex Trafficking.

ERA: How Long Must We Wait?
Sept. 2021 Program

Women have been struggling for gender equity in our Constitution ever since Abigail Adams admonished her husband John to “remember the ladies.” Despite federal and state laws, and wide public support, implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment remains elusive, and Courts do not take gender discrimination as seriously as other forms of inequality.  Why is this so difficult? What can we do about it right now?
Presentation link. ERA 2021 final Marti
Click YouTube Recording link

Presenter: Marti Sladek, retired attorney whose practice was centered on employment discrimination and civil rights. She is a long time ERA activist both independently and through NOW, AAUW, DuPage Democratic Women and the national ERA Coalition. Her experiences with ERA are as varied as discussing our lack of gender equity with a member of the National Assembly while in Cuba, and having dinner with the infamous Phyllis Schlafley. She and other ERA warriors were recognized for their efforts by the Illinois Women’s Leadership Institute after Illinois finally ratified the Equal Rights Amendment in 2018.

Increase Your AAUW Branch Online Visibility
July 2021 Program

Evaluate your AAUW online visibility by looking at your website and your Facebook page as Kate Skegg and Elaine Fisher guide you using checklists to identify changes you may need to make.  Tips and resources will be provided to make your work improving your online visibility easier.

In case you missed the program, here is the presentation. 2021 Social Media Tips. For webmasters and social media chairs:
Posting-Reminder-Calendar 2021 An easy reference to highlight current events or anniversaries related to women’s rights and AAUW public policy priorities.

AAUW IL Town Hall on Open Membership Webinar Recording

Discussion moderator: AAUW-IL President Lisa Cherry 
Panelists: AAUW Ruth Sweetser (former AAUW National President)
Marti Sladek ( ERA speaker & lawyer)
Nancy Shoemaker, members grassroots organization OpenUpAAUW

Prepare to vote on the proposed AAUW Membership amendment that removes the requirement of a degree to become an AAUW member. This amendment will open our membership to anyone who supports our mission of equity for all women and girls through research, education and advocacy. The AAUW national board and AAUW IL state board support this amendment.

Learn about the benefits and the importance of opening membership, and why the time is right to take this action. Voting is in progress now until May 17th.

Marti Sladek, “Why am I voting FOR the by-laws amendment? It is personal, because of my friends and family. A close friend who has stood by me through every crisis for years, who is bright and informed and curious, but doesn’t have a degree. A longtime friend who is African-American–now a lawyer–and was not allowed to join AAUW when she got out of college because AAUW did not recognize her HBCU school. My still active 100 year old Mom, who dropped out of college and became a pilot in WWII and can’t share my AAUW experience. Seriously? The current degree requirement is obsolete, elitist, just plain embarrassing…and frankly not easy to enforce, so some branches don’t. Let’s get real, AAUW!”

Charmen Goerhring  “Education will always be at our core- but encouraging others to engage in learning and higher education does not require a degree! For years, our mission included a focus on lifelong learning which is not necessarily university or college courses. In 2021, education and learning comes in many forms.”

Title IX: Breaking Barriers/Restoring Protections

Are You Aware of the Rollback of Title IX Protections?

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kim Churches issued the following statement May 2020 on the U.S. Department of Education final Title IX regulations for schools dealing with sexual misconduct:

Although the nation is facing an unprecedented health emergency that requires singular focus, the Trump Administration issued a rule that will substantially weaken Title IX, rolling back important protections for student survivors of sexual harassment and assault.

The decision by the U.S. Department of Education to move forward with this change follows more than a year of vigorous opposition from survivor advocacy organizations, civil rights groups and educational institutions. The outrageous new rule will make it harder for students who’ve experienced sexual harassment or violence to come forward to get the protections Title IX was created to provide.

In the best of times, the rule is ill-advised: It threatens to turn back the clock, reversing policies that were put in place to make it easier for survivors to report sexual misconduct. The rules will stack the deck against survivors, making it too onerous, even traumatic, for many to come forward. In short, the rule is antithetical to the fundamental promise of Title IX, that all students deserve access to an education free from sex discrimination.

Webinar Recording – Title IX: Breaking Barriers/Restoring Protections, to share how Title IX can provide protection of women/girls’ rights. Resource list. Title IX CA AAUW checklist.

Women Filmmakers & Supporting Women Artists 11.18.20 recording

The program features a review of film history by women filmmakers, contemporary films, plus suggestions of how we can support women artists. Program presenter: Susan Kerns is an Associate Professor of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College, where she teaches courses in cinema studies, producing, and distribution at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She is also Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Chicago Feminist Film Festival, and author of a recently published article, “Can’t I Just be a Filmmaker? Women’s and Feminist Film Festivals’ Resurgence in a Postfeminist World,” in the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Feminism.

AAUW Fellows & Grantees, 11.14.20 recording

The AAUW Foundation—as one of the world’s largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women–supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers, and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented. Four presenters will present details of their project or studies. The program is co-sponsored by the Chicago AAUW branch and Jane Addams branch. More details are on this flyer. Nov AAUW Fellows 2020 flyer

Get Out The Vote in 2020 recording

Learn from experts Ed Spire and Jim McGrath about the voting changes in Illinois and how to vote safely by mail. Ed and Jim are experienced election judges and can answer any questions about the 2020 election. We will conclude with a discussion of how we can get out the vote in 2020.

Slide Presentation: Vote By Mail Update-2020Sept17

Book Discussion video recording:
The Woman’s Hour by Elaine Weiss

Discussion leaders Elaine Fisher and Harriet Lindstrom review the thrilling story of the struggle to win adoption of the women’s suffrage – right to vote in the state of Tennessee. Leaders of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, the Anti-Suffrage party, and the National Woman’s Party. In addition, there was lobbying activity by the tobacco and alcohol industries. The decision was not certain until the final hour.

Conflict, Not Combat recording
by Kimi Hirotsu Ziemski,
Project Management Consultant

Conflict – it’s rough and we all know it. Close quarters and distant connections are revealing more and more about how each of us handles conflict. Our relationships will be changed by how we resolve conflict. Kimi Hirotsu Ziemski facilitated a discussion of what signs to look for to tell if someone is a conflict partner or conflict opponent. Slides with resource list.

7 Easy Ways to Be LGBTQ Friendly recording

Katie Slivovsky, Exhibit Development Director and LGBTQ Access & Inclusion Chair, Chicago Children’s Museum

Demystify a topic that can feel controversial, learn the latest vocabulary, and take steps toward the equitable inclusion of LGBTQ. Our speaker Katie Slivovsky, Exhibit Development Director and LGBTQ Access & Inclusion Chair, will share her expertise and experience coordinating inclusive programs at the Chicago Children’s Museum. Expand your understanding of the LGBTQ community and how we can be better allies.

Communicating with Intent: Your Words, Your Outcomes recording
By Tami Palmer, Coach & Career Advisor

Tami has worked in the staffing and human resources arena for over 15 years before founding greyzone, the career advisory/job search coaching practice in 2012.  Tami is valued for her intuition, knowledge and creative thinking and writing.

When we’re not careful with our word choices, tone and control of our story, we can find ourselves in a field peppered with communication landmines. Whether it’s making assumptions, over-sharing with too much backstory, or believing that a wish will be understood as an ask, we are often confounded by the lack of positive results from our communications. Bringing awareness to the importance of word choice, tone and controlling our stories go a long way to getting the outcomes we desire: be that a promotion, an overseas assignment or a coveted project.

How to Use Zoom Meetings

Are you trying to find a new way to have your AAUW meetings while staying home-staying safe? Here is a guide for using Zoom covering the topics of our last online program.
Tips to Use Zoom for AAUW Meetings

How to participate in a Zoom meeting

• Preparing to use a webcam
• Managing an online meeting
• Scheduling a Zoom meeting
• Precautions for a secure Zoom meeting
• Recording a Zoom meeting

Caffeine, Chocolate & Coping with Covid-19 recording.

Due to a recording glitch, we are missing some of the beginning slides. However, no worries; here is a summary of all the links and your suggestions from the chat. Caffeine chocolate coping resources

AAUW Public Policy & ERA Update webinar recording.

You are encouraged to share this informative webinar with any interested members in your AAUW branch and collaborating action groups. This webinar is designed to inform and prepare your branch for public policy issue action in 2020.
Summary of content below:

• Public Policy Update by Susan Scott, IL Public Policy Co-chair
• ERA news and upcoming actions by A J Conroy

ERA related resources:
https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/pair-of-lawsuits-battle-over-legality-of-recent-push-for-equal-rights-amendment

Resolutions pending in Congress are HJRes 79 and SJRRes 6 which can be tracked at Congress.gov.  Subscribe to “get alerts”

Steve Anderson on abortion and the ERA – https://youtu.be/tdlpFFUdX-U

Set-up a google alert for “Equal Rights Amendment” Ferriero by visiting:

https://www.google.com/alerts

Achieve greater membership success by having an active, interesting online presence! Rate Your AAUW Web Visibility Webinar recording.

Check out this book on how women can get their dream job. A candid guide for ambitious women who want to succeed without losing themselves in the process. In The Myth of The Nice Girl, by Fran Hauser deconstructs the negative perception of “niceness” that many women struggle with in the business world. If women are nice, they are seen as weak and ineffective, but if they are tough, they are labeled a bitch. Hauser proves that women don’t have to sacrifice their values or hide their authentic personalities to be successful. She shares a wealth of personal anecdotes and time-tested strategies.

This book is on the list for Operation Equity: Reading for Results on the national AAUW web site. Operation Equity is a resource for the Five Star Program: strategic plan Programs requirement.

 Wikipedia Edit-a-thon: Women of Illinois History

Did you know that only 17.89% of Wikipedia’s articles are about women?  Help us increase the number of women editors, while adding to the representation of women in Illinois, by improving and creating articles about women of Illinois history.

The Wikipedia tutorial will be led by Amy Jo Conroy, ERA activist, attorney, and AAUW member.  See the webinar recording below for more information.

Important: Attendees need to create an account, with a username and password on Wikipedia, before attending: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CreateAccount

Previous 2019-20 AAUW Webinar Recordings:

Cultivate a Growth Mindset program recording
by Denise Hansard, Life Architect and Coach

As you can begin to understand failure as data .. points in your life where something happened with a specific outcome … you will know the meaning of having a Growth Mindset. It all boils down to your ability to change. In this talk, you will …

• Discover the difference between having a Growth Mindset versus a Fixed Mindset
• Adapt a 5-step process called C.H.A.N.G.E. (Choice, How, Acceptance, Next Steps, Gain momentum and Evolution)
• 4 habits to cultivate a Growth Mindset

Intersectionality & Women’s Rights presented by Zoe Spencer,
AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund Plaintiff and professor at Virginia State University.

What is intersectionality and how does it affect the Feminist movement, sexual harassment, or discrimination? Increase your understanding of how women’s issues impact women of color and others differently.

 

Prior Year’s Program Recordings

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Jane Addams was an inspired Illinois woman and founding member of the Chicago AAUW branch.

She is best known as the founder of Hull-House, offering women the opportunity to become agents for social, political, education, and economic change in their own lives and in the lives of others as well. Among many achievements, Jane Addams was:

• A founder and the first president of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
• A founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• A founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• The first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize

For more information about Jane Addams
Find more information about the virtual Jane Addams branch by contacting Kate Skegg.