Category Archives: Announcements

Building a Stronger Community Together – Virtual, Nov. 13, 2025

Join us for Building a Stronger Community Together, a virtual community webinar, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, 7 – 8:30 PM CT via Zoom.

ACLU of Illinois, along with co-sponsors AAUW Naperville Area, Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs (ALMAS), Illinois NOW, National Council of Jewish Women Chicago North Shore (NCJW), and Naperville Neighbors United (NNU) are pleased to present a virtual, non-partisan community town hall responding to the pivotal moment that our country is in.

This conversation will focus on the nationwide civil liberties landscape, highlight state and local responses, and explore the role we can each play in our communities in the fight ahead. This event is designed to bring together current supporters in the Western Suburbs area while welcoming new voices to the movement.

Participants will hear directly from the ACLU of Illinois, local community members, and activists. And, you will have the chance to ask questions, connect with others virtually, and take action to help build a stronger, more informed, and more engaged community.

RSVP for Zoom link on ACLU event page*

*Please note that we also will livestream the program on the ACLU of Illinois’ YouTube channel. The livestream will be in English and does not require prior registration to view.

The ACLU of Illinois strives to create inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to fully engage with programming. We are planning for this program to be in English with an option for live translation in Spanish available to participants. We also will have live captioning in English and will monitor requests for additional accommodations to better participate in the event.

Questions? Please reach out to events@aclu-il.org.

Holiday Party With a Purpose Dec. 9 – RSVP by Nov. 23

Celebrate the season with AAUW Naperville Area friends at Hopvine Brewing in Aurora and benefit the Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project

Members and friends are invited to join AAUW Naperville Area at Hopvine Brewing Company, 4030 Fox Valley Center Dr., Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM to mingle and support a great cause! Tickets are $30 and include hot and cold appetizers and sweet bites. A cash bar will be available.

Our party will benefit Aunt Mary’s Storybook, a project of Companions Journeying Together (https://cjtinc.org/), to help Illinois children and their incarcerated parents.

RSVP & Get Tickets

When a parent is incarcerated, a child’s whole world changes. Aunt Mary’s Storybook helps bridge that distance by recording parents and relatives reading stories, and then sending the recordings (and the books) to the children so they can hear their loved ones’ voices, feel their love, and know they are not forgotten.

So come for the festivities and fun — and bring a NEW, unwrapped book (or two) for children from newborn to 18 years old. Many Aunt Mary’s Storybook clients are African American and Hispanic families and they always need books sensitive to these cultures. They also need softcover books in addition to board books for babies and toddlers.

We encourage you to purchase books from local independent book stores. They will have good suggestions about current favorites. Some ideas:

Dr. Seuss; Disney; Anime; Manga; Animals; Baby Shark; Questioneers; Black history; Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Good Night Moon; Goosebumps; Where the Wild Things Are; Percy Jackson; Blues Clues; Bluey; Paw Patrol; Cars/Trucks; CoCo Melon; If You Give A Mouse A Cookie; If You Give A Moose a Muffin; Lilo & Stitch; Phineas & Ferb; Minecraft
Books about kids who have an incarcerated parent/loved one
Books for kids on the spectrum/autism
Spanish/bilingual for all ages. Please be sensitive about choosing books that show children of Spanish heritage.

Caff & Laff meetup for AAUW members & prospectives Nov. 6

AAUW Naperville Area hosts a 10:30 AM casual meetup for members and prospectives on the 1st Thursday of most months.

On Nov. 6th meet us at Arwa Yemeni Coffee, 3124 S. Rt. 59, Suite 118, Naperville, from 10:30 – 11:45 AM.

Stop by and have a morning coffee or tea. It’s a great way to meet other members, casually introduce a friend to AAUW or learn more. We like to support local businesses while we chat about whatever comes up. Find the full meeting schedule, here.

Invitation – New and prospective member Meet & Greets on Oct. 21

The Membership Team is excited to invite you to a Fall Meet & Greet on Tuesday, October 21st! Whether you are a new member looking to meet fellow members and board members, or a prospective member with questions about AAUW, we’d love to welcome you all and share more about who we are and what we do.

Join us for one of two in-person gatherings on Tuesday, October 21 for casual conversation over light treats and beverages:

10-11 AM – Nature’s Best Cafe, 1904 Brookdale Road, Naperville

5-6 PM – Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, 110 S. Washington St., Naperville

Click the link below to let us know you are coming, or email aauwnaper.mbr@gmail.com with questions.

RSVP for Meet & Greet

2026 Great Decisions Discussion Groups Announcement

Are you interested in learning about and discussing U.S. foreign policy? Each year the Foreign Policy Association researches and presents Great Decisions study guides on eight international policy topics of importance to the United States. AAUW Naperville Area sponsors two Great Decisions discussion groups, AM and PM, that meet weekly from mid-January through mid-March.

How to Participate

Discussions are open to AAUW and community members. If you signed up for Great Decisions at a recent AAUW Naperville Area event, you are on our notification list for 2026. Anyone who participated in Great Decisions in the past also will remain on the list. Contact info for sign-ups.

Briefing Book Pre-Orders

On October 7 we will start taking orders for the Great Decisions Briefing Book and you will receive an email with details for ordering. The cost is approximately $29. We purchase books in bulk to receive a discount. If you don’t receive the pre-order email, please contact one of the group leaders, Liz Kruk, kruk5@att.net, or Becky Glimco, beckyglimco@gmail.com, to be included in the bulk order. You can also order a book directly from the Foreign Policy Association.

New Leader for AM Group

Welcome to Liz Kruk, the new coordinator for AAUW Naperville Area’s AM discussion group. And sincere thanks to Lee Eastman for her years of leadership.

More Info

AAUW Naperville Area Great Decisions groups and topics

Join us for a conversation on healthcare with Rep. Lauren Underwood on Oct. 6

The community is invited to attend American Healthcare: A Conversation with Rep. Lauren Underwood on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, at 7 PM CT.

AAUW (American Association of University Women) Naperville Area and Aurora Area branches are pleased to present this informative and timely webinar with Rep. Underwood, 14th District of Illinois. As a healthcare professional and policymaker, Rep. Underwood is a passionate advocate for effective healthcare.

Start the AAUW Naperville Area year at Equity Warriors Autumn Kickoff!

AAUW members and potential members — you are invited to join AAUW Naperville Area for an engaging 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. Bring your rally poster examples and ideas — we’re making posters so we’ll all be ready for the next rally!

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.

Please RSVP by September 9, 2025, 5 PM.

RSVP for Equity Warriors

2025-2026 Caff & Laff Meetup Schedule

Members and potential members are invited to AAUW Naperville Area’s Caff & Laff — an excellent opportunity to meet other members on a weekday morning in a casual and social setting. Caff & Laff will meet from 10:30-11:45 AM on the first Thursdays of most months at different cafes and parks.

Our meetups at local cafes help us to support small businesses in town. Stop by and have a morning coffee with other members of AAUW. No RSVP necessary. To receive schedule updates and reminders, contact Estela.

Sept. 4, 2025 – Jaycees Park, 401 S. Webster St., Naperville
Oct. 2, 2025 – Peet’s Coffee, 686 E. Ogden Avenue, Naperville
Nov. 6, 2025 – Arwa Yemeni Coffee, 3124 Illinois Rte 59, Ste 118, Naperville (near 95th Street)
Dec. 4, 2025 – Sugar Milk Cafe, 1250 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
Jan. 8, 2026 – Blackberry Market, 192 W. Gartner Rd. Ste 104, Naperville (near Trader Joe’s)
Feb. 5, 2026 – Nature’s Best Cafe, 1904 Brookdale Rd., Suite 104, Naperville
March 5, 2026 – Sweetwater’s Coffee and Tea, 110 S. Washington, Naperville
April 2, 2026 – Blackberry Market, 192 W. Gartner Rd. Ste 104, Naperville (near Trader Joe’s)
May 7, 2026 – Sugar Milk Cafe, 1250 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
June 4, 2026 – Jaycees Park, 401 S. Webster St., Naperville

Call for bridge players! Learn to play with AAUW Naperville Area

AAUW 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? Learn to play bridge in just four lessons!

For anyone who loves games, this is a great opportunity. Open for free to AAUW members and just $40 for non-members, your instructors, Kathy Kalina and Jody Bonneau, will set times for the four lessons to accommodate your schedule. Lessons will be held in September so those attending also are able to join the AAUW social bridge group flights starting in October. Please contact Jody Bonneau at 630.877.5378 or Jody.bonneau@gmail.com.

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.