On February 14, 2020, the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) celebrated 100 years as a nonpartisan grassroots civic organization. Founded out of the women’s suffrage movement, the League has evolved to fight to educate all people on their civic duties and advocate for government and social reform legislation.

This centennial anniversary took place in the Gold Room of the Congress Plaza Hotel, the very room in which the League was founded. Attendees heard remarks from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Cook County Commissioner Board President  Toni Preckwinkle, Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton, Michelle Duster (great granddaughter of Ida B. Wells), U.S. Representative Bill Foster, and Girl Scouts of Chicago and Northwestern Indiana CEO Nancy Wright.

The event was closed by a beautiful performance by Keshia McFarland and a cake-cutting featuring a commemorative cake by Brown Sugar Bakery. 

Here are some photos of the event taken by Darel White Photography. (Click on an image to see a larger view.)