Category Archives: Announcements

New AAUW Naperville Area Bridge season under way

Fanned playing cards with AAUW Naperville Area logo and "Social Bridge" titleAAUW Naperville Area Bridge, a popular Branch fundraiser, is kicking off a new season led by new group leader Jody Bonneau. Interested in playing social bridge but not sure how to play? No problem, just contact Jody and join our lessons in September. Lessons are free for AAUW members.

The Branch thanks and recognizes outgoing leader Sharon Doeseckle for organizing many years of successful bridge flights — contributing funding to help the Branch fulfill its mission of advocacy for women and girls.

AAUW National Fellowship & Grant applications now open

Since 1888, AAUW has been one of the largest funders of women’s graduate education, investing in women who go on to change the world. Each year, AAUW provides millions in funding to support women pursuing academic, research, and professional opportunities that advance equity for women and girls. From graduate education to community-based projects, AAUW awards empower changemakers at every level. Spread the word, applications close September 30!

Encourage eligible students, scholars, and community leaders to apply today.

Start the AAUW year at Equity Warriors Autumn Kickoff!

Two women holding signs at civil rights rally; announcement for Equity Warriors event on September 13, 2025

Come join AAUW Naperville Area for a fun and exciting morning Sat., Sept. 13, 9:30 – 11:30 AM at the DuPage River Park Picnic Shelter (south side of Royce Road – look for the farm silo). Get ready to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about promoting equity for all women and ensuring that education remains a powerful path to equity and opportunity. This in person event is a great opportunity to learn about AAUW, network, share ideas, and get inspired to make a difference. Morning refreshments and beverages will be served.

New, old and potential AAUW members all are welcome. Don’t miss out on this chance to kick off the AAUW year with other equity warriors! Please RSVP by September 9, 2025, 5 PM.

RSVP for Equity Warriors

Thank you for joining us for “Good Trouble Lives On”

 

        

 

The same spirit that fueled Selma, Montgomery, and the March on Washington lives on in our unified action! This is our moment to carry the torch and continue the legacy of John Lewis.

 

Thank you for joining us on July 17th for Good Trouble Lives On, a National Day of Action to challenge injustice and create meaningful change.

 

We are grateful to the 600 people who joined the AAUW Naperville Area Branch and our Allies to honor the legacy of Congressman John Lewis and stand up for democracy and civil rights. This was an awesome example of a peaceful gathering. We also thank the Naperville Police Department who provided ample but unobtrusive assistance throughout the event. We are proud to be part of a community that can exercise free speech peacefully and respectfully.

 

Organized by League of Women Voters Naperville, AAUW Naperville Area, IL NOW, IL National Council of Jewish Women

Thank you! 2025 Used Book & Media Sale Wrap-Up

Thousands of books arranged in categories on tables in a school gymnasium. Dozens of shoppers browsing and selecting books.

Thank you for making the 2025 AAUW Naperville Area Used Book & Media Sale a success! Sale chairs Kath Camasto and Anne Swanson organized a fantastic event. They even pivoted to move the whole event to a new location with only four weeks’ notice.

An event like this takes a community. Special thanks to:

  • Anderson’s Bookshop
  • Community donors
  • First Look shoppers
  • Knox Presbyterian Church
  • Naperville School Dist. 203 staff
  • Open Books, Chicago
  • Sourcebooks
  • Student workers
  • Trader Joe’s
  • Ultimate Treasures
  • Volunteers

The sale raised funds for research, education (scholarships, fellowships) and advocacy for women and girls. In addition, educators received special discounts on Educators’ Appreciation Night, and charities received hundreds of boxes of free books at the end of the sale.

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin is AAUW Naperville Area 2025 Woman of the Year

Head shot of Rebecca Malotke-Meslin wearing red-framed eyeglasses

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin

AAUW Naperville Area is pleased to name Rebecca Malotke-Meslin as 2025 Woman of the Year for her life’s work dedicated to advancing equity for women and girls through education, advocacy, and leadership development.

From her early work with girls in foster care, through Girl Scouts, to her academic background in Women’s Studies, Rebecca has remained focused on creating opportunities for women to thrive. Her commitment to community, equity, and uplifting women is unwavering.

Rebecca founded Pleasantly Aggressive (www.pleasantlyaggreesive.com) in 2022 to provide one-on-one coaching to early and mid-career women leaders in schools and non-profits. She helps them gain valuable leadership skills, rediscover their authentic voice, and build the confidence they need to achieve their goals.

Rebecca provides workshops and keynote speeches to audiences from local high school students to national women’s conferences. She combines her background in social research with 20 years of sales, marketing, communications, and school leadership to tackle topics like dismantling bias, building confidence, and advocating courageously. Her work inspires real action: participants have gone on to successfully negotiate raises, navigate challenging professional conversations, and change the trajectory of their careers.

A Naperville resident for 13 years, Rebecca embodies community service and civic engagement. She ran for Naperville City Council in 2023, championing equity, affordable housing, and representation for all. She currently serves on the DEI Advisory Committee for the DuPage Children’s Museum and the board of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action. Rebecca also fosters connection and growth by creating women-only spaces like her local bowling league, a Women’s Entrepreneur Meetup, and IVY, a Naperville-based conference she created to support women’s health, relationships, and careers. Through her podcast Confidently You: Women in Leadership, she amplifies the voices of women leading in education.

Rebecca will be honored at the AAUW Spring Awards Brunch on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Bolingbrook  Country Club.

First Look Tickets on Sale May 1 for June Used Book & Media Sale

Attention shoppers! AAUW Naperville Area’s 2025 Used Book & Media Sale is Thursday, June 12 – Saturday, June 14 at Washington Junior High Gymnasium in Naperville.

A limited number of First Look tickets for early access to the sale go on sale May 1 at 10 AM. Ticket purchase order determines admission order. This important fundraiser helps advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.

Get First Look Tickets

Generative AI for Everyone! In-Person April 8


Purple and black graphic promoting AAUW Naperville Area / Vision 1948 event on April 8, 2025, "AI for Everyone!"

Limited Seating – Register Now

Join us at Naper Blvd Library in Naperville on April 8 at 6:30 PM for an engaging session exploring Generative AI, its underlying technology, societal impacts, and the latest developments. Registration is required for this special program.

The Vision 1948 team will provide a basic introduction to how AI models generate text, images, and more, explaining key concepts like neural networks, and large language models. The information will be presented in a way that is easy to understand, without the need for any tech knowledge. We’ll also discuss the social and ethical implications of AI, including its influence on creativity, misinformation, and the future of work. 

To bring these concepts to life, we’ll feature interactive demos before the presentation, showcasing real-time text and image generation and AI-assisted creativity, as well as games to test AI’s ability.

Vision 1948, a team of motivated women technologists, is dedicated to bringing gender parity back to tech. Vision 1948 is a partner of AAUW Naperville Area.