Here’s to outststanding September events!

Another successful Fall Fundraiser Walk was held on September 22nd at Hidden Lake!

Kudos to Branch leadership, members, and our September speaker, Jason Spencer, for a fantastic start to a new year!! 

Upcoming Branch Meeting

October 4, 2023, 7:00 p.m.
Location: Glen Ellyn Police Department Community Room
FROM HEARTH TO SHIELD
Dr. Sam Mitrani, a College of DuPage History Professor who specializes in Chicago history. In his presentation, From Hearth to Shield, he will discuss the rise of the Chicago Police Department in the 1890’s. He will also focus on how Chicago women were treated by the police in that time period. He earned his BA and MA at the University of Chicago and his PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Mitrani is the author of The Rise of the Chicago Police Department: Class and Conflict, 1850-1894, published in 2014 by the University of Illinois Press.

September Calendar

Sept. 6 – Branch Meeting, 6:45 p.m., Glen Ellyn Police Station Community Room, 65 Park Blvd.
Sept. 8 – AM Lit, 9:30 a.m., Glen Ellyn Public Library, First Floor Meeting Rooms, 400 Duance St., Glen Ellyn
Sept. 8 – Film Group, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 13 – Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 14 – Spice Routes, 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 18 – PM Lit, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 22 – Fall Fundraising Walk, 9:00 a.m., Hidden Lake Forest Preserve, Route 53, South of Butterfield Rd.
Sept. 27 – PM Non-Fiction, 7:00 p.m.

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

Branch Proud!

Bonnie Wheaton, Branch member since 1989, will serve as the next chief judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit Court.  Congratulations, Bonnie!

Illustrious author, historian, educator, and Branch member Glennette Tilley Turner was honored on May 22nd when a mural featuring her and three other famous Wheatonites was unveiled!  Congratulations, Glennette!

AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell issued the following statement strongly condemning the US Supreme Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization:

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) strongly condemns the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The decision overturns the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that established abortion as a constitutionally protected right nearly 50 years ago and ignores the will of the American people, 80% of whom support legal abortion.

AAUW believes everyone has the right to make decisions about their own reproductive lives without government interference. Abortion access is vital to women’s ability to control their lives, bodies and futures. Without reproductive freedom, there can be no equity.

Being able to choose whether and when to become a parent improves women’s well-being and fosters economic security—a crucial component of AAUW’s mission. This is particularly important in a country that lacks accessible maternal health care, paid caregiving leave and workplace protections for pregnant workers.

The Court’s decision hurts all of us, but it will do the most harm to low-income people, women of color, immigrants, people with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people, because these

groups already face substantial barriers to accessing reproductive services and health care.

While the Court’s decision is a major setback for all Americans, AAUW remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting reproductive rights, a vital component of gender equity.

Other Branch Activity Updates:

• Our new Branch initiative, Science Girls on the Go™, is reaching parents looking for at home STEM activities during the pandemic. 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.