May, 2023 – Madame Curie: Scientist, Nobel Prize Winner

Live, in person portrayal of Madame Curie. Program co-sponsored by the Des Plaines Public Library and AAUW Northwest Suburban branch.  Join storyteller Lynn Rymarz for a dramatic portrayal of Marie Curie. Follow her life’s journey from her childhood in Poland where she showed an early curiosity in science, to her years as a determined student studying  in Paris. It leads to her Paris laboratory where she tried and failed at countless experiments before making her scientific breakthrough. She earned the honor of becoming the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. A very interesting program and over 50 people attended.

Did you know that in 1920, the Association of Collegiate Alumnae (predecessor to AAUW) helped raise funds for Marie Curie?  Brief bio video

It was an effort led by Marie Meloney, a journalist and editor of The Delineator women’s magazine. Meloney had interviewed Curie. During their discussion, the scientist stated she was in short supply of radium, an element that she had discovered. Meloney asked, “If you had the whole world to choose from, what would you take?” Curie replied, “I need a gram of radium to continue my research, but I cannot buy it; radium is too dear for me.”

Meloney left the interview determined to make Curie’s wish come true. Meloney organized a group of women in the United States and formed the Marie Curie Radium Fund. The Association of Collegiate Alumnae was an active participant in this effort. Within the ACA, the International Federation of University Women American Committee took on the project. This committee consisted of 35 women. Many prominent leaders loomed large in the group: Virginia Gildersleeve, Ada Comstock, Aurelia Reinhardt, Marion Park, Mary Woolley, and Meta Glass. Several committee members went on to become AAUW presidents.

In 1921, Curie visited the United States, along with her two daughters, to receive her gift of radium. Curie toured the country, and there was much fanfare and publicity associated with her visit. While in New York, the AAUW New York City (NY) Branch organized an event in her honor at Carnegie Hall. She then traveled to Washington, D.C., and visited the White House, where President Warren Harding presented her with the gram of radium in a lead-lined box. See her thank you note below.School board elections matter!  Vote by Mail, which is easy and convenient, or Vote on Election Day! Suburban Cook County voters can request their vote by mail ballot online. More candidate survey responses and candidate forum info.

Feb. 2023   AAUW Values Support & Protect Public Schools

AAUW Values support and protect public school education where children are prepared to become active citizens. We support:
* healthy, medically correct and age appropriate sex education
* schools that accept and welcome all students regardless of differences and have a zero tolerance policy against bullying
* access to libraries that represent diverse viewpoints and people in our society
* clear and absolute separation of church and state in public schools Education provided should be without any bias toward or against any religion.
Join our community action project to support and monitor school boards in our area. A comprehensive, accessible public education of citizens is an essential part of our democracy. Do you know your school board candidates who are running for election? School board elections matter!

Dec. 2022 Holiday Social: Sharing Crafts and Traditions

Members and guests will share our holiday crafts and traditions. Our own Alice Jenks will share some of her creative work, show us how to create a decoration, and the rest of us can tell about something we do or especially enjoy at the holiday season.

Nov. 2022 AAUW Fellows & Grantees

Meet the amazing recipients of our foundation scholarships. Program recording link.

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 DEI 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. The ERA Coalition Elect Equality campaign provides voters with the opportunity to see where their candidates stand on the ERA.  Program recording link.

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. She recommended using the LWV Voter Guide resource. Other issue related voting resource links can be found on AAUW NW Suburban Advocacy web 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.

Aug. 2022 Zoom Workshop: Building Bridges of Inclusion

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 gain understanding of 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 workshop facilitator.