FEMMY for Chicago-area Feminist Alliance!

When I came to FMF two years ago and found out I'd be organizing a group of states in this ethereal region called "the Midwest" on account of my Oklahoma roots, I had to laugh - though I did, indeed, spend 18 years in the Sooner State, the rest of the states on my list - Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana - I could identify on a map, and that was about it.

As I have gotten to know and traveled through the Midwest, with its different political climates and cultural sentiments, I've had the privilege of meeting some of the most incredible feminists the region has to offer. This last Spring, I traveled to the Chicago area, and I was really inspired by the feminist groups I met with there.

Particularly wonderful to see was groups that are taking it upon themselves not only to do a fantastic job with activism on campus, but to reach beyond them into the greater Chicago-area community itself. They're also in the beginning stages of reaching out to each other to form a Chicago-wide alliance of feminist student groups to co-host events, share knowledge, and learn from each other. Super cool!

Here at FMF, we love seeing activists work together to keep from reinventing the wheel each time, so for my FEMMY, I'd like to briefly acknowledge some of the fantastic feminist activists in the Chicago area that are reaching out to each other and the community to work smarter, not harder!

Feminists United at the University of Illinois Chicago - This group, a soon-to-be affiliate (yay!) of FMF's campus program, is living proof that activist groups can redefine their presence on campus! When I met with Jenna Andriano, the leader of the group, in February, I was really impressed with their motivation and desire to ramp up their activism and solidify a relationship with FMF. Though I've only been in touch with this group for a few months, I've been impressed with them already!

The Feminist Collective at Northeastern Illinois University - What an amazing group of women! Though they face some challenges making a name for themselves on a mostly commuter-based campus, these folks have proved that activism can find a home anywhere. Bolstered by support from the Women's Studies department on campus, one of the coolest things about this affiliated group is that they don't limit themselves to on-campus activism. They also actively seek partnerships in the community and are really trying to get the aforementioned Chicago-wide feminist-student-group alliance up and running.

Feminists United at Roosevelt University - Another group that I met with during the Chicago trip, this group is so fantastic! FU won Student Organization of the year at RU in 2009 - how awesome is that? One of the co-leaders, Haley Leibovitz, deserves some special props for her devotion to community involvement. Much like the NEIU folks, this group is bound and determined to not just make a difference on their campus, but in the wider community as a whole, and I applaud them for being so devoted.

Thank you, Chicago feminists, for being so fierce! You definitely deserve this FEMMY!

This article was featured in our May 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine.

It's Business Time: End of Semester Reports

It's that time again! At the end of every semester, FMF campus organizers call all their groups for a conversation known formally as the "End of Semester" report. If you are the leader of an FMLA or FMF affiliate, you should probably expect a call or email from your organizer soon...

There is some confusion out there about the purpose of these little interviews. Some students worry that we're calling to check up on them, or find out if they have been "bad feminists" (I definitely felt that way back when I was the leader of an FMLA at my college).  However, I now realize that this is a misinterpretation of the purpose of end of the semester reporting and the campus program as a whole.

When you campus organizer calls you, she is reaching out to help you in any way that she can. We want to hear about both the good AND the bad so that we can help your group grow and also improve the campus program. Love the Afghan Women's Health Campaign? Let us know! Have an idea of how to improve the Campaign to Expose Fake Clinics? Tell us and your idea can be shared with feminist activists around the country. Wish FMF devoted more resources to another women's issue? Let us know about that, too.

The Choices Feminist Campus program should be as grassroots as possible--YOU are the national feminist movement. So let us know what you're doing, how you're doing, and what you need. Be on the lookout for those emails and phone calls, and contact us with any questions!