Women's history group marks 40 years

The Chicago Area Women’s History Council (CAWHC) celebrated its 40th anniversary Oct. 16 with a celebration in the West Loop.

The program, “Celebrating Women’s Activism: Why History Matters,” featured a panel of Chicago women leaders, a display of women’s posters and art courtesy of Rebecca Sive, and an exhibit of women’s movement photographs by Dori Jacobsen-Wenzel.

CAWHC President Mary Ann Johnson and Rima Lunin Schultz, co-editor of Women Building Chicago, 1790—1990, A Biographical Dictionary, addressed the crowd of about 100 people.

Panelists were U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky; Heather Booth, women’s movement activist and president of the Midwest Academy; Maria Pesquiera, executive director, Mujeres Latinas on Accion; Jacky Grimshaw, political activist and vice president of the Center for Neighborhood Technology; and Tracy Baim, publisher, Windy City Times. Cheryl Johnson-Odim, historian and provost at Dominican University, moderated the panel.

Schakowsky and others spoke of the Occupy movement and how important it was to support those efforts. She also said in 2012 the goal should be to “occupy” the voting booth.

See www.cawhc.org for details on CAWHC. The event was videotaped for later viewing.