Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake Street, Oak Park, is hosting a forum on race relations in our area in the 19^th century this Thursday, February 22 at 7:00pm in the church’s sanctuary. Dr. Kate Masur and Dr. David Brodnax will be sharing their findings on their research of the times in the upper Midwest and Chicago to provide the context. 

Pilgrim is celebrating its 150^th anniversary in 2024 and planning several related events. The February 22 forum, Race and Justice: Early Oak Park & Pilgrim History in Context, should enable attendees to look back to 1874 and allow us to imagine life in a period of great changes in race relations in our country. The speaker Kate Masur is Professor of History, Northwestern University, and she is the author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Until Justice Be Done: America’s First Civil Rights Movement. David Brodnax, Sr., is Professor and Chair, Department of History, Trinity Christian College, and he is a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of Midwestern History. See the flyer here.

In advance of the March 19 Primary Election, the new 2024 Voter Guide from WTTW News provides all the resources you need to make an informed decision when you head to the polls. Go here to access the guide. Also, the Illinois Voter Guide is now available for voting information. Go here to check your registration, see who is on the ballot, and election dates and deadlines. Our LWV OPRF website also has links to these resources in addition to Vote for Judges. Be an informed voter!

SCAM ALERT! We have recently been alerted about a voter registration scam where some Illinois residents have received a text that includes the recipients' home addresses and asks them to click a link to confirm their registration status and/or register to vote. It has been confirmed with the Illinois State Board of Elections that it does not send requests for your personal information. Please alert your friends and neighbors: Do not clink on links, return calls, or provide personal, banking, or account information to anyone who reaches out to you unexpectedly. That includes calls, texts, and emails. Instead, look up the company/agency online and follow up using verified contact information you looked up yourself.

Concerned about gun violence ? So is your League! LWV IL is updating its Gun Policy Position, and you can help. You are invited to share ideas and discuss a variety of gun violence prevention topics for this study. 

When working on a study, the League attempts to consider a wide range of opinions and points of view on the issue. The League has a track record of influencing legislation based on their careful study of issues and diligent lobbying for the preferred outcomes. Approved studies can rally all 41 local Leagues to support the conclusions.

There are two ongoing discussions on gun violence prevention planned for February. They are Wednesday, February 21, 1:30-2:45pm (register here) and Saturday, March 2, 10:00-11:15am (register here.)

These discussions will be lively and have the ultimate potential to help save lives. This work will assist our State and local Leagues as well as individual members to make a difference in Illinois laws affecting the safety of our communities. Contact Lois Love or Susan Poisl with any questions.

On February 14, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs held a presentation on Ukraine's Economic Recovery. Penny Pritzker and Ivo Daalder had a conversation on international support for Ukraine. You can watch the video here. And on Thursday, February 22, there will be a presentation on unraveling the complexities of delivering humanitarian aid in conflict zones and the crucial principle of impartiality. You can register for this free event here.

In a spirited gathering of minds, 30 individuals convened at the companionable Friendly's Tap last Thursday to engage in an enlightening discussion on immigration reform led by Sara Dady, a distinguished immigration attorney with 17 years of experience. Dady, an esteemed advocate for immigration reform, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive changes to address the disjointed nature of current immigration laws that perpetuate illegal status for many individuals. With her wealth of experience, Dady shed light on the challenges immigrants face navigating the legal system, particularly highlighting the staggering backlog of cases awaiting hearings. Among the eye-opening insights shared by Dady was the revelation that there are currently only

800 immigration judges nationwide, leaving an overwhelming backlog of approximately 3 million cases awaiting resolution. This backlog underscores the urgent need for increased resources and structural reforms to expedite the legal process and provide timely resolutions for individuals seeking immigration relief.

Throughout the discussion, Dady also took the opportunity to dispel common myths surrounding immigration, including the misconception that undocumented workers do not pay taxes and drain public resources. By providing factual information and debunking prevalent myths, Dady aimed

to create a better understanding of immigration issues and promote empathy and compassion towards immigrant communities. Dady dispelled misconceptions and confronted the realities of immigration in our society. The country benefits from the contributions of immigrants, emphasized Dady.

The event served as a testament to the power of community engagement and informed discourse in driving positive change. Through collaborative efforts and open dialogue, attendees left with a deeper understanding of immigration issues and a renewed commitment to advocating for meaningful reform.

If you missed the presentation, visit our website to look over the slides.

For the March 12 Second Tuesday, LWV OPRF is hosting a discussion on how public libraries have become battlegrounds in our nation’s culture wars. What’s at stake as libraries and librarians become targets for censorship? They are

facing pressures to restrict collections and events. Last year more than 150 bills in 35 states aimed to restrict access to library materials and punish library workers who didn’t comply. To help us understand what is happening across the country and in our area, the speaker will be Stephen Jackson, Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at the Oak Park Public Library. This position was created to

support and fulfill the library's anti-racism journey and strategic plan. Free and open to the public, this event will be held at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Associaton, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park, from 9:30-11:00am. Bring a friend!

In January, LWV IL held training sessions on candidate forum planning and moderator training. You can watch the sessions by clicking on these links candidate forum planning and moderator training.

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