"Willard Leadership Weekend" To Engage with "Do Everything" Spirit

The following was submitted by the Frances Willard Historical Association:

The 175th birthday of famous Evanston resident, Frances Willard, has inspired a “Willard Leadership Weekend” schedule of events. All of the events are designed to reconnect the community with the true story of Frances Willard’s revolutionary work as a feminist and reformer, capturing her “Do Everything” spirit for action on issues that face our community today. On Saturday, September 27, “Frances Meets the Future” at an engaging conference on leadership and activism at the Woman’s Club of Evanston and on Sunday, September 28, we “Celebrate the Willard in Us All” with the unveiling of a new exhibit and festivities at the Willard House at 1730 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. Information and registration may be found at www.franceswillardhouse.org.

Frances Willard promoted the philosophy of “Do Everything” to inspire women to become involved in many social issues and to take a stand in their own futures. That spirit will be re-ignited at the Saturday conference running from 10am-3pm at the Woman’s Club, 1702 Chicago Avenue, Evanston. This daylong event will begin with presentations on Willard’s leadership style and reform platforms by historians Amy Slagell and Rachel Bohlmann. In the afternoon, local experts will lead a series of discussions focusing on issues that face women and girls today that will be designed to mobilize action in participants. Discussion leaders are Karen Singer, Executive Director of the YWCA Evanston North Shore; Kate Mahoney, Executive Director of Peer Services; and Porschia Davis, Assistant Program Director of the City of Evanston. Registration is required for this event and the cost is $25 in advance; $30 the day-of, which includes a boxed lunch.

On Sunday, September 28th, the “Celebrating the Frances in Us All” will take place at various locations around Evanston. First Methodist Church, at 516 Church Street, will host a special presentation on Willard’s life and work at 9:15am, and a tour and viewing of its Frances Willard stained glass window at 11:30am. First Methodist was Willard’s home church and the site of many important events in her life. Then Willard House, at 1730 Chicago Avenue, will host an open house from 11am to 2pm. A new exhibit, “Cultivating Character – The Early Life of Frances E. Willard.” will be open and new signage designating the WCTU historic district will be unveiled. In addition, the Ridgeville Band will play songs from the time period and birthday treats will be served on the lawn. This event is complimentary.

The “Willard Leadership Weekend,” September 27-28, is expected to draw at least 400 community members and to be the pinnacle of the FrancesWillard@175 Campaign. Visit www.franceswillardhouse.org for more detailed information.

Partners in FrancesWillard@175 include: Alpha Phi Foundation; Evanston History Center; Evanston Women’s History Project; First United Methodist Church; Frances Willard Historical Association; League of Women Voters of Evanston; Shorefront Legacy Center; Woman’s Club of Evanston.

Participating organizations include: City of Evanston; Curt’s Cafe; Peer Services; and YWCA Evanston/North Shore.

Major funding for the Willard Leadership Weekend is provided by a grant from the Evanston Community Foundation.

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The FWHA preserves and interprets the house museum but also works to inspire and encourage leadership and broad participation in civic life as Willard’s lasting legacy. The house museum, its grounds, the library, and the archives benefit a local and global community of visitors, educators, and scholars, inspiring a renewed interest in this often overlooked major figure in the women’s rights movement. www.franceswillardhouse.org

The Evanston Community Foundation helps Evanston thrive now and forever as a vibrant, inclusive, and just community. It builds, connects, and distributes resources and knowledge through local organizations for the common good. The Foundation builds endowments for current and future opportunities, fosters private philanthropy, focuses the impact of collective giving, finds solutions to community challenges, allocates grants, and provides leadership training. www.evanstonforever.org.