Founding
Board of Directors
- Margaret Blackshere
- Hon. Barbara Brown
- Sharon Corrigan
- Ertharin Cousin
- Hon. Barbara Flynn Currie
- Loretta Durbin
- Bonnie J. Ettinger
- Jackie Gallagher
- Mary Harkrader
- Linda Hawker
- Carolyn Brown Hodge
- Margaret Houlihan
- Hon. Lovana S. Jones
- Ann Kalayil
- Katherine Laing
- Hon. Lisa Madigan
- Hon. Iris Martinez
- Hon. Shirley McCombs
- Iola McGowan
- Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch
- Billie Paige
- Amalia Rioja
- Hon. Carol Ronen
- Anne Roosevelt
- Hon. Jan Schakowsky
- Linda Sher
- Hon. Bobbie L. Steele
|
HISTORY
The Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership (IWIL) is an educational (501[C][4]) organization that exists to encourage and train women to become effective leaders in Illinois government and politics. The organization grew out of discussions about the need for more women in politics which took place at the 1999 Democratic National Convention. Many of the founding members of the Board of Directors, listed to the left, participated in those discussions and have worked diligently since that time to build the organization and raise the funds needed to conduct the training programs. The first class was selected in 2002.
PROGRAM
The program is open to all Illinois women who have a commitment to serve in public office and a willingness to commit the time necessary to participate fully. The application process begins in January with a mid-March deadline. Candidate applications are reviewed by IWIL’s Delegate Selection Committee and finalists are interviewed personally by the Committee. Class Delegates are announced in early April and the first session is held in June. See the “Calendar” section of this website for the complete schedule and see “Curriculum” to view the programs that have been held in the past. Attempts are made to schedule programs on weekend days; however, there are some sessions that take place during the week so Delegates must obtain permission from their employers in order to participate fully. Attendance at all sessions is mandatory. The program includes an extensive session on fundraising and their final assignment is to put that training to work in organizing the annual Fundraiser/Graduation event.
COSTS
To ensure that qualified candidates are not excluded due to financial constraints, IWIL pays for all of major expenses (e.g., hotel accommodations, most meals, and out-of-state travel). Delegates need only pay for in-state transportation and a few other incidentals.
|