Chicago, IL, September 30, 2011 — On Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011, Chicago Area Women's History Council (CAWHC) will celebrate 40 years of discovering, preserving and sharing Chicago women's history at Prairie Production, 1314 W. Randolph Street from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
CAWHC's anniversary program, "Celebrating Women's Activism: Why History Matters," features a distinguished panel of Chicago women leaders and an update on the organization's current project "Documenting Women's Activism and Leadership 1945 — 2000." The event, open to the public, is an opportunity to honor and celebrate Chicago area women's historic achievements and contributions.
"Chicago women are vastly underrepresented in most scholarly writings about the modern women's movement and women's activism generally," said Mary Ann Johnson, President, CAWHC. "Most histories of the women's movement are written from the point of view of the East and West Coasts. Chicago women have a unique and powerful story to tell. Documenting their story is the mission of our project."
Women activists on the program:
¢ Jan Schakowsky, Congresswoman, Illinois 9th District; women's advocate
¢ Heather Booth, Women's movement activist; President Midwest Academy
¢ Maria Pesquiera, Executive Director, Mujeres Latinas on Accion; Latina activist
¢ Jacky Grimshaw, Political activist; VP Center for Neighborhood Technology
¢ Tracy Baim, Publisher, Windy City Times, and editor Out and Proud in Chicago
¢ Rima Lunin Schultz, Historian; Co-editor Women Building Chicago 1790-1990 A Biographical Dictionary.
Cheryl Johnson-Odim, historian and provost at Dominican University, will moderate the panel. The celebration will feature an exhibit of women's movement photographs by Dori Jacobsen-Wenzel and a display of women's posters and art courtesy of Rebecca Sive. Members of the Luna Blues Machine will provide music for a reception with Nueva Latin cuisine.
To attend CAWHC's 40th anniversary celebration, register online at www.cawhc.org or call 773.227.0093. Tickets are $35 in advance ($40 at the door); $20 limited income; and $15 for students with a valid I.D. Street parking is free and easy. For handicap accessibility call 312.820.7499 on the day of the event. For further information call 773.227.0093.
The CAWHC is a non-profit, membership organization that promotes the study, interpretation and preservation of women's history. Founded in 1971, during the early years of the modern women's movement, CAWHC is the longest term women's history organization in the U.S. It serves as a network for historians, archivists, teachers, museum professionals, oral historians, preservationists, activists and other interested in the study of Chicago women past and present.