AAUW Naperville Area members at the 2022 AAUW Illinois convention in Lisle

After two years meeting virtually the AAUW Illinois Convention convened in person on May 6 – 7 at the Hilton Doubletree Lisle. Attendees were excited to connect with activists from across the state, celebrate achievements and learn about challenges to equity in the state and nationally.

AAUW Illinois President Lisa Cherry chaired the event which was managed Becky Glimco, AAUW Illinois Program Co-Director. Sixteen Naperville Area members attended, helped host and presented. Friday night’s opening cocktail hour and dinner featured a national update and Q&A with AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell who joined virtually from Washington, D.C.

Maria Manhart, Todra Oken and Paulette Goodman hosting registration at the AAUW Illinois Convention

On Saturday Naperville Area members Shoshana Frank, I-ACT, and Debbie Fertel and Anne Swanson, program co-vice presidents, presented examples of how to further AAUW’s mission and build community. Other experts spoke on how social media is transforming our democracy, how to move diversity, equity and inclusion from theory to reality, paths forward for the Equal Rights Amendment (28th constitutional amendment), and challenges to intellectual freedom in libraries and schools.

Peggy and Shoshana Frank organizing the AAUW Naperville Area exhibit table before the opening