Determined to provide women with a full picture of where candidates for Illinois governor stand on the issues women say are important to them, nearly 40 Chicago- area women's organizations have banded together to host a gubernatorial forum. To be held after the official filing deadline for the March 2018 primaries, the Chicago Women Take Action Alliance will host candidates from all parties in which there is a primary contest.
The forum will query candidates on issues raised by more than 200 women from 20 diverse organizations across the city who worked together with Chicago Women Take Action to develop the first Chicago Women's Agenda. The 11-point agenda, which includes economic security and empowerment, healthcare, reproductive rights, criminal justice and gun control among other issues, has been the basis for joint action among the various groups since 2014 when it was created.
Among the broad group of involved organizations are traditional women's organizations such as Women Employed and NOW, as well as new organizations of young people such as Chicago Students Take Action, Power Pumps and Cause the Effect Chicago, with strong representation from African-American, Latino and labor groups.
The forum, to be held at Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington, is expected to draw a diverse audience. With a previous mayoral forum held by the Alliance in 2015 having drawn more than 600 people, the December 9 event is expected to draw upwards of 800 people. The event is free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available starting Nov. 6 on Eventbrite.
Invitations have already been extended to leading candidates. Further invitations will be issued to the remaining candidates depending on meeting a minimum standard in the polls by mid-November.
For down-ballot candidates, the Chicago Women Take Action Alliance is also holding a candidates' meet and greet Monday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Bar Louie, at Dearborn and Polk in Chicago.
For further information contact: Marilyn Katz 312-953-1225 or 312-822-0505 or mkatz@mkcpr.com or Nora Mabie nora@mkcpr.com .
AAUW-IL, Action Illinois, Affinity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Theta Omega Chapter, Chicago, Illinois, Amalgamated Transit Workers Local 308, Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago National Organization for Women, Chicago Teens Take Action, Chicago Women Take Action, Chicago Women's History Center, Enlace Chicago, Fierce Over 40, Girl Talk, The Girlfriends Group, Gorgeous Within, Hustle Mommies, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, Illinois Democratic Women, Indivisible, Mujeres Latinas en AcciÏ, n, National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore, National Women's March, Off the Sidelines, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Power Pumps, Pride Action Tank, Rainbow-PUSH, SAFE Coalition for Human Rights, SEUI Healthcare, Voices and Faces Project, Windy City Times, Women and Children First Bookstore, Women Employed, Women's Business Development Center, Women's MarchChicago, Women's National Democratic Club, Women's Section, Illinois Psychological Association, YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago
