League of Women Voters of Naperville

Friday Book Group - No Choice: The Destruction of Roe v. Wade and the Fight to Protect a Fundamental American Right
2023-09-15 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Becca Andrews. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 9/15 event.

How Our State Legislators Get the Work Done
2023-09-13 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Zoom Meeting
Come to this panel discussion with two of Naperville’s state legislators–Senator Laura Ellman and Representative Janet Yang Rohr. They will discuss how they approach legislative sessions, sponsorship of bills, and how they interact with constituents and other legislators during the legislative sessions.
We all learned in high school civics how a bill moves through both chambers of the legislature. It is a fairly simple process; each chamber passes the bill and reconvenes together through a special committee if the bills differ. Once the compromise is reached, the bill is sent to the Governor for signature. In reality, the process is more complex, requiring hours of research, balancing of interests, and, often, special legislative sessions.
Join us! Please register here.
About the Speakers
Sen. Laura Ellman was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 2018. She currently serves on the following committees: Agriculture; Appropriations–Finance & Revenue; Energy & Public Utilities; Financial Institutions; Next Generation of Energy; Redistricting–DuPage; Next Generation of Nuclear Energy; and Transportation.

Janet Yang Rohr. Rep. Yang Rohr was first elected from District 41 to the Illinois House in 2021. Rep. Yang Rohr serves on the following committees: Appropriations -Elementary, Secondary and Higher Education; Elementary & Secondary Education–School Curriculum and Policies and Administration, Licensing and Charters; Health Care Availability and Access; Personnel & Pensions; and Small Business: Technical Innovation.
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An Introduction to City Boards and Commissions
2023-08-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | City Hall Meeting Rooms A and B, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville
The City of Naperville and the League of Women Voters will host an information session, “An Introduction to City Boards and Commissions” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 23, in Meetings Rooms A & B of the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S. Eagle St.

The hour-long presentation will cover the importance of boards and commissions to City governance and introduce the new Boards and Commissions Guide. Attendees will learn how the application and appointment process works should they wish to become involved. The session includes an introduction by the League of Women Voters, a presentation by Mayor Scott A. Wehrli, and a question-and-answer session. It is free and open to the public.

Tuesday Book Group - The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court
2023-08-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Sheldon Whitehouse. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 8/22 event.

Civic Engagement for Sustainability and Climate Action
2023-08-21 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S Eagle Street, Naperville
Join the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force (N.E.S.T) on August 21 for a Community Meeting about Civic Engagement for Sustainability and Climate Action
Mimi Cowan, former chair of the Will County Board, will lead NEST in a discussion on civic engagement to create a more sustainable community.
We all can be a part of addressing climate change if we work together as a community. Please come and invite your friends! RSVP here.

Location:
Naperville Municipal Center
Meeting Room B, Lower Level
6:30-8:00 PM

You can also participate via Zoom if you cannot attend the August Community Meeting in person. Register here to attend virtually.

Friday Book Group - The Scheme: How the Right Wing Used Dark Money to Capture the Supreme Court
2023-08-18 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Sheldon Whitehouse. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 8/18 event.

Tuesday Book Group - Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America
2023-07-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Dahlia Lithwick. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 7/25 event.

Friday Book Group - Lady Justice: Women, the Law, and the Battle to Save America
2023-07-21 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Dahlia Lithwick. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 7/21 event.

Civic Awareness Series: How the World Views America
2023-07-20 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Wheaton Library, 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton, IL
Join us on Thursday, July 20th, from 7-8:30 to learn more about the DuPage County study and preliminary findings regarding affordable housing in the County.
This is a hybrid event both in person at the Wheaton Public Library and Zoom.
DuPage County Board Members Liz Chaplin and Sam Tornatore, co-chairs of the ad hoc committee of the Dupage County Board on Affordable Housing, will present the preliminary findings of the committee as the County Looks to the future of Affordable Housing.
The committee has begun to study a definition of affordability, evaluating the impact of local County policies on current development opportunities, analyzing actions of past Boards that attempted to increase the affordable housing supply, and determining what resources are available to address the needs.
Please register whether attending in person or Zoom.
If you will be attending via Zoom, after registering, you will receive a confirmation email and reminders containing information about joining the Zoom program.

Liz Chaplin

Sam Tornatore

Tuesday Book Group - We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment
2023-06-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Julie C. Suk. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 6/20 event.

Friday Book Group - We the Women: The Unstoppable Mothers of the Equal Rights Amendment
2023-06-16 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Julie C. Suk. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 6/16 event.

Annual Meeting and Luncheon
2023-06-03 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano, 2752 Showplace Drive, Naperville, IL
Make your reservation now for our Annual Meeting and Luncheon on June 3rd!
Newly elected City Councilwoman (and League member) Allison Longenbaugh will be our keynote speaker at our annual meeting and luncheon.
This is a don’t miss event; we’ll be electing officers, celebrating our accomplishments, and approving our upcoming priorities. Your input is vital. Join us!
This event will be held at Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano from 11-2 pm. The cost is $35, which is paid when you register.

Tuesday Book Group - Presumed Guilty:How the Supreme Court Empowered the Police and Subverted Civil Rights
2023-05-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Erwin Chemerinsky. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 5/23 event.

DuPage County River Sweep
2023-05-20 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for the 32nd Annual DuPage County River Sweep!
The League of Women Voters Naperville will again participate in the River Sweep, a community project to clean up the DuPage River, on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The event is from 9 am to noon, but you can participate for as long or as short as you want. This is a county-wide event to clean up the DuPage River, and groups will be assigned different sections of the river for cleanup.
This is an intergenerational event, so bring your kids or grandkids.
Interested?

RSVP to Julie Niles by Wednesday, May 17. We’ll email you to let you know where to meet. The League will be joined by members of First Congregational Church, UCC, Naperville.

Friday Book Group - Presumed Guilty: How the Supreme Court Empowered the Police and Subverted Civil Rights
2023-05-19 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Erwin Chemerinsky. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 5/19 event.

Civic Awareness Series: How the World Perceives America
2023-05-11 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Cantigny Visitor Center, 1S151 Winfield Rd, Wheaton, IL, 60189
Join us on May 11th at 7:00 pm for the Civic Awareness Series: How the World Perceives America.
Americans are disinclined to see themselves as others see them, which limits what the U.S. can accomplish in international affairs. This program will explore American “exceptionalism” and the notion that only Americans have a keen insight into global problems and solutions. This series is co-sponsored with Cantigny and area Leagues, including ours. Our speaker, Dr. Richard Farkus, will discuss how hyperpartisanship in America’s political landscape affects global perceptions.
Be prepared for a thought-provoking evening that challenges conventional thinking and encourages ideas without borders.
Dr. Farkas has been teaching at DePaul University for over 40 years. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina and an honorary degree from Corvinus University. He has lectured in Russia, Poland, Hungary, and Croatia. His research compares political and economic development strategies in post-Communist and post-conflict countries. He has consulted for some of the U.S.’s largest corporations and has frequently appeared on U.S. and international media.
The program is offered as a hybrid. You will need to register whether you plan to attend in-person and Zoom. To register in person, you will need to make a login account on the Cantigny site.
You will use this account for all Civic Awareness tickets in the future. You can submit your questions to ccorrigan@fdmuseum.org or blaimins@gmail.com.
Please use the Q&A button located on the bottom of the Zoom screen when asking questions during the event.
Co-hosting Leagues: Central Kane CountyRoselle/Bloomingdale Additional Event Hosts: League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn, and Cantigny Park.

May Ideas Forum: The State of Reproductive Rights
2023-05-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Join us for our May Ideas Forum on May 10th at 7:00 pm on Zoom.
Addie Zwick of Planned Parenthood of Illinois will discuss the state of abortion access nationwide, including the federal mifepristone case, then dive into Illinois-specific reproductive rights updates and how we can all take action to defend bodily autonomy in our state.
Addie Zwick is a program manager of advocacy and campaigns at Planned Parenthood of Illinois. She has worked in reproductive health and rights advocacy for the last six years and currently runs programs for patient advocacy and young adults for Planned Parenthood programs at PPIL.
This event is free, but please register.

Tuesday Book Group - Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and the Imperiled Future of the Vote
2023-04-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Eric Holder. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 4/25 event.

Friday Book Group - Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and the Imperiled Future of the Vote
2023-04-21 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Eric Holder. Our book groups are offered twice a month. Register for the 4/21 event.

Bikeability and Walkability in Naperville
2023-04-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Join us on April 12th at 7:00 pm via Zoom for our April Ideas Forum!
Biking and walking are popular activities in Naperville. People walk and bike in their neighborhoods, in our outstanding Will and DuPage Forest Preserves, and in our Naperville Parks.
Pedestrian and Cycling Safety in the US is deteriorating, and Naperville is not immune.
Learn about the many opportunities Naperville has to make biking and walking even more enjoyable and useful.

Bikeability and Walkability mean safer alternatives to get to school.
Bikeability and Walkability mean making sure that cycling and walking are means of transportation – replacing cars for short errands.
E-bikes are a total game changer for better and for worse.
Naperville’s bicycle plan is 17 years old.

This event features Tom Craighead and Justin White.
As chair of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) in the late ’90s and early 00’s, he laid out and constructed much of the current biking and walking path and on street routes. He is currently stepping up his community activism for biking and walking as a member of the Naperville Environment & Sustainability Taskforce (NEST). Tom is an active member of LWVN.

Justin White’s drive for continuous improvement and development is not restricted to professional pursuits. Outside the office, Justin can often be found cycling around the Chicago area with friends, family, and local cycling club members or working on shaving seconds off his lap times at the YMCA pool. On the creative side, Justin enjoys reviving his musical abilities on saxophone, clarinet, and piano.

Tuesday Book Group - Beyond Belief, Beyond Conscience: The Radical Significance of the Free Exercise of Religion
2023-03-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Jack Rakove
From goodreads.com:
In Beyond Belief, Beyond Conscience, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Rakove tracks the unique course of religious freedom in America.
As Rakove explains, America’s intense religiosity eventually created a new set of problems for mapping the relationship between church and state. He goes on to examine some of our contemporary controversies over church and state not from the vantage point of legal doctrine, but of the deeper history that gave the U.S. its own approach to religious freedom. In this book, he tells the story of how American ideas of religious toleration and free exercise evolved over time, and why questions of church and state still vex us.
Zoom discussions take place at 12:30pm on the 3rd Friday of each month and at 7pm on the following Tuesday. You are welcome to join us for either discussion (or both!) whenever time or interest allows by registering.
Discussion zoom registration links:
Register for the 3/21 at 7:00 pm event.
Register for the 3/17 at 12:30 pm event.

Friday Book Group - Beyond Belief, Beyond Conscience: The Radical Significance of the Free Exercise of Religion
2023-03-17 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Jack Rakove
From goodreads.com:
In Beyond Belief, Beyond Conscience, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack Rakove tracks the unique course of religious freedom in America.
As Rakove explains, America’s intense religiosity eventually created a new set of problems for mapping the relationship between church and state. He goes on to examine some of our contemporary controversies over church and state not from the vantage point of legal doctrine, but of the deeper history that gave the U.S. its own approach to religious freedom. In this book, he tells the story of how American ideas of religious toleration and free exercise evolved over time, and why questions of church and state still vex us.
Zoom discussions take place at 12:30pm on the 3rd Friday of each month and at 7pm on the following Tuesday. You are welcome to join us for either discussion (or both!) whenever time or interest allows by registering.
Discussion zoom registration links:
Register for the 3/17 at 12:30 pm event.
Register for the 3/21 at 7:00 pm event.

Cracking the Celluloid Ceiling: Women in Film and Television
2023-03-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
It’s Movie Night for our March Ideas Forum
Grab a bowl of popcorn and join our discussion of the documentary This Changes Everything, which takes a deep look at gender disparity in Hollywood through the eyes of well-known actresses and female filmmakers. We invite everyone to join the conversation.
Features: Geena Davis, Shonda Rimes, Reese Witherspoon, Meryl Streep, Tracy Ellis Ross, Natalie Portman, Chloe Grace Moretz, and more!
Watching the movie is not required, but it will add to the conversation.
This Changes Everything, 97 minutes
Available on:

Netflix
Kanopy (Naperville Public Library)
Hoopla (Naperville Public Library)
DVD (Naperville Public Library)

Joining the discussion will be Suzanne Chod of North Central College. Suzanne teaches classes in American political institutions, parties, campaigns and elections, as well as courses focused on women in American politics and research methods. She is currently the Coordinator of the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program and a member of the President’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force.
Register today!
Did You Miss Our February Forum onHow Climate Change Affects Our Lake Michigan Region? Watch it any time on YouTube

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board Candidate Forum
2023-03-07 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Naperville Community Unit School District 203 Board Candidate Forum

Hear from the Candidates!

Ronald Amato Melissa Kelley Black

Kristine M. Gericke

Joseph (Joe) Kozminski Gilbert R. Wagner
All candidates have been invited.

Co-sponsored by Naperville General Home and School.This event is free, but please register.

How a Candidate Forum Works

All candidate forums/Q&A are run by trained, non-partisan moderators from outside the district. Equal time is given to all candidates to answer each question. Opening statements, responses and closing statements are all timed.

The candidates will present an opening statement, in turn, alphabetically.

Questions will be chosen in advance by the League for appropriateness and relevance from those solicited from League members as well as community members. The moderator will ask questions in rotation so that each candidate will have the opportunity to be the first to answer.

After the questions are completed, each candidate will provide a closing statement, continuing the alternating pattern.

No surrogates are permitted to participate. An uncontested forum, that is, one with only one candidate, is not permitted.

All of these events will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. We will also be streaming live on Facebook. A recorded version of each event will be available on our YouTube channel and Facebook after the event.

Indian Prairie School District 204 Board Q & A
2023-03-07 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Indian Prairie School District 204 Board Q & A

Hear from the Candidates!

Catey Genc

Justin Karubas

Mark Rising

All candidates have been invited. This event is free, but please register.
Co-sponsored by Indian Prairie Parents’ Council.

How a Candidate Forum / Q & A Works

All candidate forums/Q&A are run by trained, non-partisan moderators from outside the district. Equal time is given to all candidates to answer each question. Opening statements, responses and closing statements are all timed.

The candidates will present an opening statement, in turn, alphabetically.

Questions will be chosen in advance by the League for appropriateness and relevance from those solicited from League members as well as community members. The moderator will ask questions in rotation so that each candidate will have the opportunity to be the first to answer.

After the questions are completed, each candidate will provide a closing statement, continuing the alternating pattern.

No surrogates are permitted to participate. An uncontested forum, that is, one with only one candidate, is not permitted.

All of these events will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. We will also be streaming live on Facebook. A recorded version of each event will be available on our YouTube channel and Facebook after the event.

Naperville Park District Board Candidate Forum
2023-03-06 19:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Naperville Park District Board Candidate Forum

Hear from the Candidates!

Christopher Jacks

Rich Janor

John Risvold

All candidates have been invited. This event is free, but please register.

How a Candidate Forum Works

All candidate forums/Q&A are run by trained, non-partisan moderators from outside the district. Equal time is given to all candidates to answer each question. Opening statements, responses and closing statements are all timed.

The candidates will present an opening statement, in turn, alphabetically.

Questions will be chosen in advance by the League for appropriateness and relevance from those solicited from League members as well as community members. The moderator will ask questions in rotation so that each candidate will have the opportunity to be the first to answer.

After the questions are completed, each candidate will provide a closing statement, continuing the alternating pattern.

No surrogates are permitted to participate. An uncontested forum, that is, one with only one candidate, is not permitted.

All of these events will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. We will also be streaming live on Facebook. A recorded version of each event will be available on our YouTube channel and Facebook after the event.

Naperville Mayoral Election Candidate Forum
2023-02-23 19:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Naperville Mayoral Election Candidate Forum

Hear from the Candidates!

Scott Wehrli

Benjamin (Benny) White

All candidates have been invited. This event is free, but please register.

How a Candidate Forum Works

All candidate forums/Q&A are run by trained, non-partisan moderators from outside the district. Equal time is given to all candidates to answer each question. Opening statements, responses and closing statements are all timed.

The candidates will present an opening statement, in turn, alphabetically.

Questions will be chosen in advance by the League for appropriateness and relevance from those solicited from League members as well as community members. The moderator will ask questions in rotation so that each candidate will have the opportunity to be the first to answer.

After the questions are completed, each candidate will provide a closing statement, continuing the alternating pattern.

No surrogates are permitted to participate. An uncontested forum, that is, one with only one candidate, is not permitted.

All of these events will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. We will also be streaming live on Facebook. A recorded version of each event will be available on our YouTube channel and Facebook after the event.

Tuesday Book Group - Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution
2023-02-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
By Elie Mystal. Our book group events are offered twice a month. Register for the 2/21 event.

Naperville City Council Candidate Forum
2023-02-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom Meeting
Naperville City Council Candidate Forum

Hear from the Candidates!

Meghna Bansal

Patrick Kelly

Allison Longenbaugh

Rebecca Malotke-Meslin

Ashley South

Ashfaq Syed

Jodi Trendler

Madhu Uppal

All candidates have been invited. This event is free, but please register.

How a Candidate Forum Works

All candidate forums/Q&A are run by trained, non-partisan moderators from outside the district. Equal time is given to all candidates to answer each question. Opening statements, responses and closing statements are all timed.

The candidates will present an opening statement, in turn, alphabetically.

Questions will be chosen in advance by the League for appropriateness and relevance from those solicited from League members as well as community members. The moderator will ask questions in rotation so that each candidate will have the opportunity to be the first to answer.

After the questions are completed, each candidate will provide a closing statement, continuing the alternating pattern.

No surrogates are permitted to participate. An uncontested forum, that is, one with only one candidate, is not permitted.

All of these events will be held virtually via Zoom Webinar. We will also be streaming live on Facebook. A recorded version of each event will be available on our YouTube channel and Facebook after the event.

Friday Book Group- Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution
2023-02-17 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Zoom Meeting
By Elie Mystal

Our book group events are offered twice a month. Register for the 2/17 event.
