Over the weekend I got an opportunity to attend two events that underlined for me the importance of women in public life and also how many gains have been made in that regards.
First, I attended the Democrats of Northfield Township Mini- Convention hosted by Tracy Katz Muhl with a line up of federal, state, and county officials providing information on current status of legislation affecting the community. Among the speakers were several dynamic women including State Representative Robyn Gabel and State Representative Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz. Although the meeting did not have a direct at promoting women, it was clear women were playing a central role at every level.
Second, I attended the event Women In Politics hosted by the Democratic Party of Evanston and led by Eamon Kelly. This meeting was as billed, it featured women in Illinois public service. What I appreciated most was not only were women the feature speakers, and prominent women in attendance such as Judith Mandel from New Trier Democrats and Kim Neely Du Buclet from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, but the featured guests were young women in high school and in college who had an interest in leadership and public service. I sat at a table with four young ladies from Northwestern University who all were Poli Sci majors.
I support these events because we have to make sure that at all levels of conversations when decision are being made the WHOLE community is involved. When you omit, overlook, disregard, or undermine the voice of women, then you have excluded half the community right of the bat. That means at least 50% of the time whatever decision you make will be misguided at best and at worst detrimental to the community. I look forward to continuing to attend these types of events and listening and learning.