The Wheaton-Glen Ellyn Branch is the proud recipient of AAUW’s
5 STAR AWARD!

“This distinction highlights the Wheaton-Glen Ellyn Branch’s exceptional alignment with AAUW’s strategic priorities and our leadership in advancing equity in our community.”
Tremayne Parquet, Deputy Director of Advancement, AAUW

October Branch Meeting

AAUW Presents: Empowering Young Adolescent Parents
October 1, 2025, 6:45 PM
Glen Ellyn Police Department Community Room
65 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn

What happens to all those young adolescent women who find themselves pregnant, and what happens to their babies? What can we as a community do to help them? At its October meeting, the AAUW Wheaton-Glen Ellyn Branch will present: Empowering Young Adolescent Parents

SPEAKER: Becky Beilfuss, Executive Director of Teen Parent Connection, Glen Ellyn, will share about the mission and impact Teen Parent Connection has on our local communities. Their mission is: “Serve the community through education on the realities and responsibilities of teenage pregnancy and to offer long-term assistance to adolescent parents for the development of self-esteem, parenting skills, and empowerment towards self-sufficiency. Since 1985, Teen Parent Connection has provided education, support, and resources to adolescent parents (both female and male) and their children in DuPage County, IL. Our primary goal is to provide services that will prevent child abuse and neglect among this at-risk population.”

Teen Parent Connection’s emphasis on education aligns with the AAUW mission, promoting education and advancement for all young women.

More information about the Branch, its mission, and activities can be found on this website.

Guests are welcome to all Branch Meetings!

AAUW Wheaton – Glen Ellyn Branch to Sponsor

The MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival

Our excitement is building as our MANHATTAN SHORT International Film Festival nears. This festival is an AAUW Wheaton-Glen Ellyn branch fundraiser. Proceeds will help fund college scholarships. Join us at the Glen Art Theatre for this special evening of entertainment. Refreshments including beer and wine will be available for sale in the lobby. We hope you will put it on your calendar: 

September 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Glen Art Theatre
540 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL
Ticket Price: $25.00 

For 28 years MANHATTAN SHORT has solicited short films from filmmakers around the world. They assemble a film festival of the Top Ten Finalists. The films are shown at 500 venues worldwide for one week. All attendees are provided with a ballot to vote for their Best Film and Best Actor. Past films have garnered Oscar nominations and wins, such as “I’m Not a Robot” in 2024. 

Tickets are selling fast! You can purchase online now at Eventbrite.com (Service charge applies.) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/manhattan-short-film-festival-tickets-1475253636339?

Additional information at wheatonglenellyn-il.aauw.net or www.manhattanshort.com  

September Calendar

Sept. 3 – Branch Fall Kick-Off, 6:45 p.m., Glen Ellyn Police Station
Sept. 4 – Great Decisions, 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 5 – AM Lit, 9:30 a.m., Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton
Sept. 9 – Great Decisions, Zoom
Sept. 12 – Film Group, 7:00 p.m., TBD
Sept. 15 – PM Lit, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., TBD
Sept. 17 – New Member Gathering, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 24 – PM Non-Fiction, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 – MANHATTAN SHORT Film Festival, 7:00 p.m., Glen Art Theatre, 540 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn
Oct. 1 – Branch Meeting, 6:45 p.m., Glen Ellyn Police Station, 65 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn

* Members: Click here to access Twigs. Password required. Click here for assistance

AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell issued the following statement after the results of the 2024 election:

“As you know by now, the 2024 presidential race has been called — and for the second time, our country has decided it wasn’t ready to have a highly-qualified woman hold our nation’s highest office.  The election results are extremely sobering, especially after such a long and hard-fought election season.  We did see some wins on state ballot measures that I’m glad to share. Of the 10 states that had abortion measures on the ballot, seven chose to defend women’s reproductive health last night. Thank YOU for your advocacy. That is progress, but it’s not enough. This is a time where we must persist together and continue advocating for women’s rights in this way.  Trump being back in office may set us back, and it will require a defensive strategy of advocacy from us like never before.  We will not back down from our belief that women’s work should be valued, our bodies should be respected, and that our education and workspaces should be inclusive and free from violence, harassment, discrimination, and bias.  It is our commitment to gender equity that allows me to write to you today with a clear-eyed promise: We will persist.”

Other Branch Activity Updates:

• Our Branch initiative, Science Girls on the Go™, provides STEM-related activities in community settings. Click here for more information.

• Click here if you would like to donate to the Branch’s Opportunities Fund. This fund annually provides Higher Education Incentive Awards to girls from local high schools who are continuing their education at the College of DuPage. From time to time, the Opportunities Fund also supports other Branch-sponsored gender equity initiatives and national AAUW projects.

What is AAUW?

AAUW’s Mission:
To advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is the nation’s leading voice promoting equity and education for women and girls. Since our founding in 1881, AAUW members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. Click here for more information on AAUW’s Mission, Vision and Values.  Join us!

As AAUW continues to move forward in a changing world, so have our Strategic Plan and our Vision Statement. Click here to read the complete plan.