Category Archives: Programming

Award-winning educator and journalist to speak January 14, 2025

Alba Mendiola

AAUW Naperville Area and ALMAS (Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs) are excited to host an inspiring conversation with Alba Mendiola, award-winning educator, writer and speaker, and AAUW grant awardee, on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 7 PM via Zoom.

Mendiola, a dedicated educator, teaches AP® Spanish Language and Broadcast Journalism to Spanish heritage speaker students at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. Her dedication to education earned her the Alan C. Miller Educator of the Year in 2023, awarded by the News Literacy Project.

Before transitioning to the classroom, Mendiola had a successful 18-year career as a Spanish television reporter at Telemundo Chicago and Televisión Azteca in Veracruz, Mexico. Her investigative work earned her the Chicago Regional Emmy® Award seven times.

In 2021, she was honored to receive a Career Development Grant from the American Association of University Women, sponsored in part by funds contributed by AAUW Naperville Area. This invaluable support played a pivotal role in her academic journey at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she earned a master’s degree in teaching.

Born and raised in Mexico, Mendiola takes pride in her immigrant background. She holds a B.S. in Communications from the prestigious Tec de Monterrey.

Menopause and Longevity – Register for Nov. 12 virtual program

Menopause affects everyone. Either you or someone important to you will experience it. Join us for a thoughtful conversation and presentation led by Dr. Jennifer Skrabutenas about menopause and how to live a longer and healthier life.

Women and their allies are welcome to attend this free virtual community program.

Among the topics we’ll discuss:

Keys to longevity: How to live longer, healthier years
Menopause: Your body is changing, how should you change in response?
HRT: Is it right for me?
Hot flashes and more: Reducing menopause symptoms

About Our Presenter

Dr, Jennifer Skrabutenas, D.C., Fox Valley Chiropractic Physicians, is a compassionate and dedicated physician, renowned for her expertise in functional medicine. With a deep commitment to holistic healthcare, Dr. Jennifer approaches each patient with a personalized and empathetic approach, aiming to uncover the root causes of the health issues rather than simply addressing the symptoms.

Tickets on sale for AAUW In The Spirit December event

You’re invited to our “In The Spirit” holiday open house featuring lite bites, drinks & shopping with Threads Worldwide from 6:30 – 8:30 PM on Tues., Dec. 10, 2024!

Join AAUW Naperville Area members and friends at the White Eagle Owners Club (not the public golf club) for socializing, appetizers, sweets, wine, soft drinks and coffee. Shop for holiday gifts from Threads Worldwide with Christi Allison (daughter of member Ruth Allison). Threads Worldwide sources jewelry and home goods from female artisans around the world at fair trade prices. Christi will donate a share of sales to AAUW Naperville Area.

Anyone interested in AAUW and supporting equity for women is welcome to attend. Tickets are just $25 for this festive event! Please RSVP by December 5.

Get Tickets for In The Spirit

What’s Your Dignity Index? Register for In-Person Program Oct. 8

If you could help ease the divisions in America would you do it? Is our language treating the other side with contempt or dignity?

Join AAUW Naperville Area for What’s Your Dignity Index?, an interactive session to learn how to use the Dignity Index. This free community program begins at 7 PM on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Naper Blvd Library, 2035 Naper Blvd, Naperville. Come early at 6:30 PM and join us for informal social time. Please register to save your spot – space is limited.

Originated by students and faculty at the University of Utah, and shared by our sister AAUW Batavia-Geneva-St. Charles branch, the Dignity Index shows that it is not our disagreements that cause division in our country; it’s what we do when we disagree. The Index is an 8 point scale that scores speech along a continuum from contempt to dignity.

2024-2025 Caff & Laff Meetup Schedule

Members and potential members are invited to AAUW Naperville Area’s Caff & Laff — an opportunity to meetup on a weekday morning in a casual and social setting. We get together from 10:30-11:45 AM on the first Thursdays of most months at different cafes and parks. Stop by and have a morning coffee with us! No RSVP necessary. To receive schedule updates and reminders, contact Estela,

Oct. 3, 2024 – Peet’s Coffee, 686 E. Ogden Avenue, Naperville
Nov. 7, 2024 – Panera, 2775 Showplace Dr., Suite 123, Naperville
Dec. 5, 2024 – Sugar Milk Cafe, 1250 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
Jan. 2 & Feb. 6, 2025 – No meeting
March 6, 2025 – Nature’s Best Cafe, 1904 Brookdale Rd., Suite 104, Naperville
April 3, 2025 – Sweetwater’s Coffee and Tea, 110 S. Washington, Naperville
May 1, 2025 – Sugar Milk Cafe, 1250 W. Ogden Ave., Naperville
June 5, 2025 – Jaycees Park, 401 S. Webster St., Naperville

Great Decisions 2025 – 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 study 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 at the AAUW Autumn Meetup in September for either Great Decisions group, you are on the list for 2025. Anyone who participated in Great Decisions in the past also will remain on the list.

Briefing Book Pre-Orders

On October 7 we will start taking orders for the briefing book we use for discussions. You will receive an email with the approximate cost of the book and other details on that date. We purchase the books in bulk to receive a 20% discount. If you don’t receive the order email, please contact Lee, leeeastman44@gmail.com, to be included in the bulk order.

Seeking New Leader for Great Decisions PM Group

Do you enjoy the PM group? Please consider taking on the role of facilitator. Becky Glimco, our longtime leader, has many commitments this year and would appreciate a break. Please let Becky, beckyglimco@gmail.com, know if you are interested in taking on this role.

More Info

AAUW Naperville Area Great Decisions groups and topics.

Questions? Lee Eastman, leeeastman44@gmail.com.

Saturday, September 14 – Autumn Action and Morning Meetup

The kids will be back in school and the weather will be turning. Join us for a refreshing morning of coffee, conversation and light breakfast at DuPage River Park Picnic Shelter, 808 Royce Road, Naperville, from 9:30 – 11:30 AM. There is no charge for this event but RSVPs are appreciated — please email Lee, leeeastman44@gmail.com.

Renew friendships and meet our new members. Potential new members are always welcome! We will hear plans for the coming year and AAUW’s nonpartisan focus on engaging and educating voters to turnout in November. At this event we will be writing postcards to encourage people to vote, and Susan Marshall, our I-ACT Chair, will be available to register people to vote in the state of Illinois.

Awards Brunch and Annual Meeting Highlights

AAUW Naperville Area members and guests gathered at Bolingbrook Country Club on a beautiful spring day, Saturday, May 4, 2024, to honor awardees, install officers, and celebrate branch accomplishments. President Lee Eastman emceed the event.

Woman in yellow sweater speaking from a podium

Becky Simon

The branch honored Becky Simon, Naperville activist and president of the League of Women Voters of Illinois, as 2024 Woman of the Year. In her remarks, Simon urged the audience to take action on public policy matters affecting voting and good governance.

Scholarship recipients Maggie Walsh (left) and Diana Rangel (second from right) with scholarship committee members Joan Schaeffer, Alice Snelgrove and Marge Marek

Magda Walsh received the Michael S. Hollman Scholarship and Diana Rangel received the Angeline Gale Scholarship. Each woman received $5,000 to pursue their higher education goals.

Several members were recognized as well. Joan Schaeffer received the 2024 Branch Service Award for her ongoing commitment to AAUW’s mission and her dedicated service as president and scholarship chair. Members Lynn Franger and Elaine Fisher received certificates of appreciation for stepping up to manage branch communications during the absence of the branch’s communications lead.

Man in orange sweater and blue baseball cap speaks from a podium labeled with an AAUW Naperville Area sign

Mike Hollman

Two women at a podium; one woman holding a certificate

Joan Schaeffer, receiving the 2024 Branch Service Award from Nikki Batsch, branch president elect

Two women pose with recognition certificates and yellow roses next to a podium with an AAUW Naperville Area sign

Lynn Franger and Elaine Fisher

Lee Eastman speaking at podium during AAUW Naperville Area Awards Brunch

Branch President Lee Eastman

Branch I-ACT lead Susan Marshall (left) receives a rose from President Elect Nikki Batsch

President Lee Eastman recognized officers, team and group leads, and installed new officers to serve on the board that will be led by Nikki Batsch who assumes branch leadership on July 1.

April 24: Beyond Borders Forum on New Immigrants

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 6:30 p.m. Naperville Municipal Center
Beyond Borders: A Forum on New Arrivals and Asylum Seekers

ALMAS (Alliance for Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs) and Indivisible Naperville have come together to host Beyond Borders, a community conversation aimed at fostering education, raising awareness, and facilitating open dialogue. This event provides a platform for a discussion among leaders and experts to address the complex challenges faced by new arrivals and asylum seekers. The panel is designed to enhance understanding and support within suburban settings and promote actionable solutions for attendees. In an era of significant global movement, understanding the experiences and challenges faced by new arrivals and asylum seekers is crucial for fostering inclusive communities. AAUW Naperville Area is a sponsor for this event.

This event is free, but requires registration, which you can do here. This is a private meeting and no unauthorized recording is allowed. This event is nonpartisan, refraining from taking positions on political candidates and respecting diverse opinions.

Dave Hoekstra: Beacons in the Darkness, Mar. 12, 2024

Tues., March 12, 7 PM; Lisle Library, 777 Front St., Lisle IL
Beacons in the Darkness (Hope and Transformation Among America’s Community Newspapers)

Across the U.S. community newspapers are closing or being swallowed by larger city-based papers. Dave Hoekstra, Naperville Central grad and Chicago-based Journalist, will shine a light on the local newspapers that have managed to not only survive but flourish in this new era of social media and hedge fund owned newspapers.

Dave Hoekstra worked for the Chicago Sun-Times as a staff writer and critic for 30 years. He was awarded the Studs Terkel Community Media Award in 2013 for his columns and critiques. He was the writer-producer for the award-winning 2018 musical documentary ” The Center of Nowhere (The Spirit and Sounds of Springfield, MO.) Additionally, he has written four books his most recent being, Beacons in the Darkness (Hope and Transformation Among America’s Community Newspapers.)