University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

February 23, 2001

Contact: Anne Dybek (312) 996-8279; adybek@uic.edu

WOMEN'S HERITAGE MONTH 2001 AT UIC

"Inspiring Stories of Courage and Vision." Beginning in March, the University of Illinois at Chicago's 2001 celebration of Women's Heritage Month explores the unique contributions that women have made to our culture.

"This year's theme points to the incredible impact that women have had on shaping our lives," said Rebecca Gordon, director of the UIC Office of Women's Affairs and project coordinator. "This month, we reflect upon and commemorate those women who have touched us with their distinctive lives and stories and who taught us to see the value in our own unique strengths."

The month-long event will examine such issues as workplace equality, ethnicity, sexuality and creativity.

All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information, visit the Web site at www.uic.edu/depts/owa or call 413-1025. For persons with disabilities who need special accommodations in order to participate in an event, call 413-5070 at least one week prior to the event.

Thursday, March 1

Opening Reception and Reading: "A Taste of Her Own Medicine: A Dramatic Reading of Performance, Prose and Poetry," by Cherríe Moraga. Moraga is a nationally recognized playwright, poet and essayist whose works weave together the issues of gender, race, culture, class and sexuality. The opening reception is cohosted by the City of Chicago's Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Women. 5:30-7:30 p.m., Illinois Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Friday, March 2

Talk with Cherríe Moraga: Moraga will talk about herself as a Chicana writer, her inspirations and her obstacles in publishing. 9-10 a.m., Room 509-10, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Thursday, March 8

Roundtable Discussion: Loung Ung, Nobel Peace Prize winner and author of "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers," will discuss her autobiographical account of surviving and escaping the horror of Pol Pot's regime. 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Fort Dearborn Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Presentation with Reception and Book Signing: "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers," by Loung Ung. Ung is the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient for her work as the cofounder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. 3:30-5:30 p.m., Illinois Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Monday, March 19

Gender and Women's Studies Brown Bag Series: "Why There Wasn't a Woman's Building at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair." Noon-1 p.m., Basement Conference Room B102, Office of Social Science Research, Behavioral Sciences Building, 1007 W. Harrison St.

Thursday, March 22

Luncheon and Panel Discussion: "Integrating the Life-Cycle of a Woman's Health Needs." Alice Dan, director of UIC's National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, will lead a panel discussion about the center and its role in improving women's health. Recovery Room, UIC Chicago Illini Center, 828 S. Wolcott St., noon-1:30 p.m. Panel presentation is free and starts at 12:30 p.m. For reservations, contact Joyce Winn, 996-6357. Lunch is $7 for Campus Forum members, $9 for nonmembers.

Coffeehouse Performance: Barbara Bailey Hutchison, Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter, will perform her songs about great women through history. 6:30-8 p.m., Cardinal Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Monday, March 26

Lecture: "The Jewish Woman in America: A Quarter-Century Later." Sonya Michel, UIC director of Gender and Women's Studies and coauthor of "The Jewish Woman in America," will explore new research in this area and examine how well ideas in the book have stood the test of time. Noon-1:15 p.m., Levine Hillel Center, 924 S. Morgan St. Lunch will be provided.

Wednesday, March 28

Reading: Carolivia Herron will deliver a group reading of her controversial children's book, "Nappy Hair." The program will also acknowledge the winners of the fifth annual Chicago Public Schools Essay Contest. 9:30-11 a.m., Illinois Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Friday, March 30

"Sex and the City" Speaker Series: "Women on the Town: Sexual Geography in Modern Cities." Christine Stansell, professor of history at Princeton University, is one of the nation's leading historians of women and sexuality. 2-4 p.m., Cardinal Room, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St. A reception will follow.

Tuesday April 3 - 5

Exhibit: UIC "Clothesline Project." The Clothesline Project is a graphic display and tribute to women affected by violence. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., West Concourse, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Thursday, April 5

Lecture and Earth Month Opening Reception: "Natural Capitalism." UIC's Women's Heritage Month and Earth Month acknowledge the contributions women environmental activists and scientists have made to the health of our planet. L. Hunter Lovins, cofounder and president of the Rocky Mountain Institute, will outline strategies for sustainable development, economic renewal and alternative energy use. Noon-2 p.m., Room 605, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St. A reception will follow.

Rally: "Take Back the Night." Show your support and raise your voice to speak out about violence against women in our communities. 5-7 p.m., A. Montgomery Ward Lounge, UIC Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted St.

Monday, April 9

Lecture: "Principles of Land-Use Management." Virginia Dale, ecologist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, will speak on her research in land-use change, forest succession and ecological modeling. 2-3 p.m., Room 4289, Science and Engineering Laboratories, 950 S. Halsted St.

Cosponsors of UIC's Women's Heritage Month 2001 include: Office of Women's Affairs, Campus Programs, Student Activity Funding Committee, Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women, Office of the Provost, Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues and many more.

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