Chicago Foundation for Women

Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) has been at the forefront of women’s rights for more than 30 years. Their advocacy work has helped to improve the lives of women and girls in Chicago. Founded in 1984 by philanthropists Marjorie Craig Benton, Sunny Fischer, Iris J. Krieg and Lucia Woods Lindley, CFW has awarded over 3,000 grants to organizations and programs focusing on economic security, freedom from violence and health without missing a beat.

Eva Niewiadomski

“What is this magical place?!”

That was the reaction of more than one guest at Rebellious Magazine for Women’s recent Feminist Prom as they stepped off the elevator into Catalyst Ranch, the brightly colored brainchild of June’s Rebelle of the Month, Eva Niewiadomski.

Rape Victim Advocates

Sharmili Majmudar, executive director of Rape Victim Advocates since 2008, is clear about her pioneering organization’s legacy.

“RVA was started by and continues to be sustained by Rebellious women,” she says. Forty two years after the organization’s founding by a "bad-ass" OB/GYN, Majmudar says the “same spirit of rebellion and commitment” lives on in their staff and volunteers, who support victims and survivors of sexual violence through direct services, education and prevention. RVA is the only independent rape crisis center in Chicago and one of the few organizations of its size and scope nationally.

Teachers

Teachers: Thank you for all you do to empower young people and make the world a smarter, more thoughtful and more intellectually Rebellious place.

Women Supporting Women Conference

Ask Emily Lonigro Boylan why Chicago’s women business owners need the Women Supporting Women Conference, and she doesn’t mince words: “Men have a network, it’s called the world. We need to have a conference that’s for us.”

The Women Supporting Women Conference, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20 at Catalyst Ranch, is sponsored by Mom + Baby, a non-profit organization led by Boylan and fellow entrepreneur Alexandra C. Eidenberg.

#WOWDay

Women-Owned Wednesday is the brainchild of Corielle Heath Laaspere, founder of the liftUPlift Makers Alliance, a Chicago-based e-commerce site for women makers and artisans from around the world.

Held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, WOWDay is a chance for shoppers to support women-owned businesses, including those within the liftUPlift alliance.

Your Turn!

Suggest yourself or another #Rebellious Chicagoan to be featured in 2017! Email details to Rebelle in Chief Karen Hawkins at news@rebelliousmagazine.com with the subject line: Rebelle You Should Know.

"Cloud Gate" photo by Samantha Bailey. Find more of her amazing work at www.thoughtsinbuttermilk.com