The Independent Voters of Illinois - Independent Precinct Organization ( IVI-IPO ) is excited about its upcoming annual Independents' Day Dinner. This event takes place Thursday, July 19th at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 2247 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago. The affair kicks off with a reception at 6:00pm and the dinner and program at 7:00pm.
The highlight of the Dinner, an historic Chicago Mayoral Candidates Forum featuring leaders who believe they have the capacity to set Chicago on a path of improving the quality of life for its citizenry. IVI-IPO is recognized for raising the public's awareness and providing insight into the candidates' positions. To help us sift through the ideologies of each candidate, IVI-IPO will enlist Chicago's own WGN-TV Political Analyst, Paul Lisnek, to moderate the forum. Mr. Lisnek is an attorney, who has consulted on and analyzed numerous nationally recognized legal cases, he is an author, public speaker, the host of several television and radio shows and has received numerous awards. You are sure to experience a very enlightening program with Mr. Lisnek at the helm.
All active mayoral candidates were invited. Those who have confirmed their participation in the forum include: Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown; 22-year old community organizer and entrepreneur Ja'Mal Green; President of Chicago Principals and Administrators Association Troy LaRaviere; former police board president, Lori Lightfoot; and Chicago businessman Willie Wilson. The incumbent Rahm Emanuel; 30-year old Tech Exec Neal Sales-Griffin; the former CPS CEO Paul Vallas have not yet confirmed their presence.
IVI-IPO is also excited about the organizational awards they will present at the Dinner. The Legal Eagle Award will be presented to the Travel Ban Attorneys who provided pro bono legal counsel to the protesters at O'Hare Airport protesting Trump's Travel Ban and later setup an ongoing crisis help line. Recognition will be given to the attorneys coordinating the team: Sufyan Sohel of CAIR; Iman Boundaoui of Drinker, Biddle and Reath; Jamie Friedland of Latham & Watkins; and Matt Pryor of the Cook County Office of Shakman Compliance.
Longtime activist and member Timuel Black, celebrating his 100th birthday this year, will be presented with the Harold Washington Award. The Young Leadership Award will be presented to March for Our Lives - Chicago. Congressman Luis Gutierrez will be presented with the Leon Despres Award. The Barbara Merrill-Rudy Lozano Labor Award will be presented to Roberta Lynch, Executive Director of Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees. Special recognition will be given to State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie and Cook County Clerk David Orr, who are retiring after many years of public service and many years working with IVI-IPO.
Tickets are $100 for members and $115 for non-members. Bronze Sponsorships are $300 and include 2 tickets and a Ľ-page ad. Silver Sponsorships are $600, and include 4 tickets and a half page ad. Gold Sponsorships are $1200 and include 10 tickets and a full-page ad.
IVI-IPO's mission is "to achieve social justice through good government by increasing voter participation and knowledge, by providing a framework for candidate evaluation, and by electing responsive government officials." For more information, you may visit www.iviipo.org .
