Women of the Millennium Conference

Over 200 women from various racial and ethnic backgrounds attended the Women of the Millennium II Conference in 1999. The event was sponsored by the Council and The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago. The conference, created to discuss and develop a plan of action to bridge the racial/ethnic gap between women, was held during Women’s History Month.

Women of the Millennium II Panel Members– Pictured from left to right (back) Marciela Garcia, Wanda Wells, Juju Lien, and J. Cunyon Gordon; (front) Marina Martinez and Christine Grumm.

According to the recent Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women in Illinois, “The state is in need of addressing the many issues women encounter. Today, many women do not have economic parity with men, women do not have access to support and resources (education, child and elder care, or health services) necessary to improve their quality of life, and women are not safe in a society that allows them to battle with physical, emotional, and psychological violence.” Women of color face even greater obstacles.

This conference was a continuation of the first Women of the Millennium dialogue held last year, which focused on the role and inclusion of women of color in a new women’s movement in the 21st century. According to Terri Johnson, Senior Staff Associate of the Human Relations Foundation, “If the women’s movement plans to enter the next century as a vehicle for change, it must do so by including women of color in its agenda and leadership.”

Several local feminists participated in the event:

	J. Cunyon Gordon, Esq., visiting Boston College Law professor and author of “Women of Color and Women’s Rights in the 21st Century,” which appeared in the Council’s Spring/Summer 1998 One City magazine. Her article also helped to serve as a premise for the conference.
	Christine Grumm, executive director of Chicago Foundation for Women.
	Juju Lien, executive director of Asian American Institute.
	Marina Martinez, a student from DePaul University.
	Marciella Garcia, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights.
	Fox 32’s Wanda Wells, director of community affairs, was the moderator.

“This is a dialogue that should continue well after the conference,” states Wanda Wells. “If women of different backgrounds continue to work together, then the (women’s) movement can be successful.”

The event was cosponsored by the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women, League of Black Women, National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, National Hook-Up of Black Women (Chicago Chapter), National Organization of Women (Chicago Chapter), and the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

Jill Nelson, author of Straight, No Chaser: How I Became a Grown-Up Black Woman.

A year later, the Council and The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago presented the “Grown-up” Women’s Workshop which featured award-winning author and journalist, Jill Nelson.

Nelson is author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed autobiography Straight, No Chaser: How I Became a Grown Up Black Woman, an account of the author’s struggle and victory in addressing both racism and sexism collectively.

Her speech focused on the need for African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and Arab women to play a stronger role in the feminist movement.

The “Grown-up” Women’s Workshop was also cosponsored by the Women’s Studies Program at Roosevelt University, Southwest Women Working Together, and Housing Options for Women. Northern Trust Bank, Roosevelt University, Kennedy-King College, and United Airlines provided underwriting support for the event.

A videotape of both events is available and can be obtained by contacting the Council at 312-782-3511 or ccua@ccua.org.

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