At a time when national attention is focused on the political implications of the current fury over sexual harassment, more than 40 women's groups in Chicago and Illinois are hosting a forum for candidates for Illinois governor Saturday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m., at the Chicago Temple.
"The issue of sexual harassment has been part of [Chicago Women Take Action] agenda since it was created in 2014," said co-convener Marilyn Katz. "This forum will ask about the candidates' proposed remedies to this, but will also look at the underlying economic and social issues that place women in vulnerable positions. After all, in the end, it's not about sex but power."
Organized by the Chicago Women Take Action Alliance, which in 2014 convened many of the groups to forge the Chicago Women's Agenda, and moderated by NBC Chicago's Mary Ann Ahern, the forum will let women voters hear the candidates' views on issues women say are important to them. Democratic candidates J.B. Pritzker, Christopher Kennedy, Daniel Biss and Tio Hardiman will participate in the panel discussion. Republicans Gov. Bruce Rauner and challenger State Rep. Jeanne Ives declined.
More than 1,200 people have registered to attend the event, which is free and open to the public. Among them will be members of the 40-plus women's groups sponsoring the forum. The forum will be broadcast live by CAN TV, live streamed, live tweeted and covered by two podcasts.
The forum will run from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. Admission is free, but registration is required, at chicagowomentakeaction.com . At this point names are being put on a wait list, which will be used to admit people on the day of the event.
For more information, contact Marilyn Katz, mkatz@mkcpr.com .
Sponsor partners: AAUW-IL / Action Illinois / Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy / Affinity / Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Theta Omega Chapter, Chicago, Illinois / Amalgamated Transit Workers Local 308 / Arab American Family Services / Cause the Effect / Chicago Foundation for Women / Chicago National Organization for Women / Chicago Teens Take Action / Chicago Women Take Action / Chicago Women's History Center / Community Renewal Society / Democratic Party of Oak Park / Enlace Chicago / Fierce Over 40 / Fight For $15 Chicago / Girl Talk / The Girlfriends Group / Gorgeous Within / Hustle Mommies / Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence / Illinois Democratic Women / Illinois Women's Institute for Leadership / Indivisible / Mujeres Latinas en Accion / National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore / National Women's March / 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 March Chicago / Women's National Democratic Club / Women's Section, Illinois Psychological Association / YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
