March is Women's History Month! Celebrate with us and our campus partners!

Find the full calendar at go.uic.edu/whm.

Women’s Week Donation Drive for CAWC
Hosted by Women’s Health Initiative and Honors College Advisory Board
Monday, March 3 – Friday, March 7, 2025
Burnham Hall Vestibule

International Womxn’s Day Accelerate Action Dinner
Hosted by Equity in Engineering Program & Women in Engineering Programs
Friday, March 7, 2025
4-6pm | RSVP for location

SWE in the City
Hosted by Society of Women Engineers
Saturday, March 8, 2025
10am – 2pm | 239 ARC

Short Reads Book Club: This Bridge Called My Back
Hosted by Library Undergraduate Engagement Program and Women's Leadership and Resource Center
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
12-1pm | 1700 SSB

Women’s Business Conference
Hosted by United Women’s Network
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
3-6pm | Student Center East, Illinois Room

From Surviving to Thriving: Cultivating Possibilities for Parenting Students in Illinois
Hosted by Women's Leadership and Resource Center & Campus Partners
Thursday, March 20, 2025
9am – 1pm | SSB Conference Rooms

[ID: The outline of an open book with the words "Women's History Month", all in purple, with the UIC circle logo at the top.]

Share your thoughts in our weekly poll!

With so much happening in the world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. It’s important to prioritize mental health while staying informed. Remember to take time for yourself and reflect on how you're managing through it all.

How are you doing right now? What strategies do you use to stay grounded amidst everything happening around us?

Check back next week for your responses and a new question!

Last week, we asked, "Who is a woman—past or present—who has inspired you? How do you plan to honor and celebrate women’s history this month?" Here are some of your responses:

Thank you for sharing your wonderful responses!

[ID: "Question of the Week" in yellow block letters inside a yellow-orange frame on a purple-blue gradient background.]

Tuesday, March 11 | 12-1pm
WLRC, 1700 SSB
Audience: Students, Staff, and Faculty

Join us for a lunchtime reading and discussion of select pieces from the seminal feminist anthology, This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color, edited by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria E. Anzaldúa.

[ID: The cover of This Bridge Called My Back, which featueres the silhouette of a body from chin to pelvis, with a cornstalk growing inside it. Above it are two sets of hands holding open books. Around these is text describing the Short Reads Book Club event. ]

Wednesday, March 12 | 12-1pm
WLRC, 1700 SSB
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

What are the challenges of moving through classes and work as a survivor? What forms of support do you need in the classroom, and how can you access it? We will leave the session with concrete strategies and goals for the second half of the semester.

[ID: "HEALS: Healing for Engagement, Action, & Leadership by Survivors" in white text over a purple background, with flames rising from the bottom center.]

Thursday, March 20 | 9am - 1pm
SSB Conference Rooms
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a symposium exploring the unique needs and challenges of parenting students. Together we will uplift student stories, present current research on parenting students, identify best practices for supporting pregnant and parenting students, and articulate ways to collaborate to put our ideas into action at UIC and campuses statewide.

[ID: Two parents wearing commencement robes and mortar boards, playing with their small children, all smiling. Text in the center reads, "from Surviving to Thriving: Cultivating Possibilities for Parenting Students in Illinois."]

Survivors, we are here for you! Please reach out to the Campus Advocacy Network any time you need support, information, resources, answers, and/or advocacy related to safety, healing, or gender-based violence (sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, harassment, family abuse).

We can connect in person at WLRC or via Zoom, phone, text, or email. Our services are free, confidential, and open to all members of the UIC community.

We can help you build a safety plan, connect with resources (like mental health support or legal assistance), process your experiences, and stay informed about your rights and options. We can assist you as you navigate processes like requesting academic accommodations, communicating with Financial Aid and the Registrar's Office, filing a report with the Office of Access and Equity, and/or petitioning for an Order of Protection, depending on your needs.

We are here not only for survivors and those facing gender-based violence, but also for those in roles where there may be a need to support survivors on campus, such as instructors, mentors, advisors, student leaders, friends, or colleagues.

To connect with an advocate:
- Call: (312) 413-8206
- Text: (312) 488-9784
- Email: can-appointment@uic.edu
- Submit an Ask an Advocate form

[ID: Four members of Mujeres en Medicina, smiling, hold a section of clothesline from WLRC's Clothesline Project, where t-shirts tell the stories of surviving violence or offer messages of support, such as "Women owe you nothing," "You are loved," and "I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become!"]

Everyone at UIC has a role to play in preventing violence and supporting survivors in our community. 

If you are an ally supporting a survivor in your life (whether that is a friend, family member, student, or employee), contact us to discuss questions around advocating for survivors, campus and community resources, mandated reporting, and more.

If you are a student leader, instructor, or supervisor, please consider inviting CAN to speak to your class through our Don’t Cancel Your Class! program, or request a training for your department, college, student organization, or other campus unit. 

[ID: A coffee cup, paper, paper clips, buttons, and pencils scattered around text about the Don't Cancel Your Class program, all on a teal background.]

If you are teaching, please share information about CAN during class and in your syllabus:

"If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic/dating violence, stalking, or harassment, there is help available. The Campus Advocacy Network provides free and confidential services to UIC students, faculty, and staff who have experienced or are experiencing interpersonal violence. Pregnant and parenting students are also welcome to contact CAN for resources, information, and support.

If you would like to speak with an advocate, please email CAN at can-appointment@uic.edu, call (312) 413-8206 and leave a voicemail message, text (312) 488-9784, or fill out CAN's Ask An Advocate form online at can.uic.edu/ask. To learn more, visit CAN's website at can.uic.edu."

[ID: The text of the CAN Syllabus Statement in dark blue on a white background, with a teal green border.]

Black Cultural Center: BCC & Black to the Beginning Presents: Bloodlines at the Box Office
Thursday, March 6 | 12-2pm, 207 Addams
Join the BCC and Black to the Beginning for Bloodlines at the Box Office, a discussion on Black family and adoption in The Woman King with Dr. Samantha Coleman & Sandria Washington.

Latino Cultural Center: Weekly Listening Party
Thursday, March 6 | 2-3pm, Lecture Center B2
Come together to build community, share and experience music together, and explore different genres of music.

Black Cultural Center: What's Going On?
Friday, March 7 | 10-11am, Virtual
Students will have the opportunity to share their experiences related to mental health and wellness. The topic for March is Intersections of Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality.

Black Cultural Center: Black Table Talk
Wednesday, March 12 | 12-1pm, 207 Addams
Join us for a powerful discussion on women and representation featuring a screening of the Black Barbie documentary.

Latino Cultural Center: Zona Abierta: Biological Causes of Neurodevelopmental Issues: The Role of Environmental Exposures
Wednesday, March 12 | 2-3pm, Virtual
UIC postdoctoral scholars will share their research and experiences, highlighting the complexity and impact of their work on marginalized communities.

Disability Cultural Center: Crip Coffee Break: Paint & Sip: Tea Party Edition
Wednesday, March 12 | 3-4pm, 235 BSB & Zoom
We'll hang out together and let the conversation be guided by what’s going on in our lives or what’s on our minds.

Asian American Resource Center and Cultural Center: Learning Your ABCs (American-born Chinese)
Wednesday, March 12 | 3:30-4:30pm, 308 Grant
We will discuss a history of Chinese characters, play some language games, and discuss our experiences as Asian Americans learning Chinese, led by students of AARCC Student Ambassadors (ASA).

Latino Cultural Center: Civic Cinema: Jamaica y Tamarindo: Afro Tradition in the Heart of Mexico
Thursday, March 13 | 1-2pm, Lecture Center B2
Join the LCC for Jamaica y Tamarindo by Ebony Bailey explores Afro-Mexicano identity in Mexico City. A 20-minute film, followed by a discussion with Diosmery Roque.

Disability Cultural Center: 2025-26 Community Care Cohort Internship: Community Care Cohort Info Session - Apply by April 1, 2025!
Thursday, March 13 | 3:30-4:30pm, 235 BSB & Zoom
Learn more about the UIC DCC’s Community Care Cohort at an info session! Hear about the internship, get questions answered, and connect with current interns.

About the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change (CCUSC): Founded as a direct result of campus activism, the CCUSC work collectively to produce knowledge and shift university culture, validating the multidimensional lived experiences of historically and currently excluded communities. Informed by social justice frameworks, the Centers support students, faculty, and staff as they build a strong identity and sense of belonging, becoming change agents for a more just campus and society.

The Centers connect our communities and design intercultural and engaged-learning opportunities, student mentorship programs, cultural programming, advocacy, collaborative research, and community partnerships. Through these efforts, the Centers expand the educational and transformational mission of UIC.

[ID: The above statement about who the UIC Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change are, on a purple background.]

In light of potential threats to our communities, both here at UIC and throughout the Chicago area, it's important to know what our rights are when interacting with immigration and other law enforcement officers.

UIC's administration has shared official protocols for such interactions on campus. In short:

UIC's Rigo Padilla Pérez Undocumented Student Resource Center provides a comprehensive set of resources you can use on campus and in the community, including printable cards in multiple languages. They can also provide Know Your Rights trainings by request.

For more detailed info, check out this presentation from Sanctuary for All UIC, a collective of students, faculty, and staff imagining a sanctuary for all at UIC.

We are here for you and will continue to share resources and information with our campus community.

[ID: A two-page flyer with Know Your Rights info from ICIRR, which is available on its website.]

Global Asian Studies: Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environmentals Behind Filipino Food
Tuesday, March 18 | 3:30-5pm, Zoom
Join this talk by Professors Marvin Joseph Montefrio (Environmental Studies, Yale-NUS, Singapore) and Alyssa Paredes (Anthropology, University of Michigan) on their exciting new co-edited book.

Black Studies: Grace Holt Memorial Award: Apply by March 31!
This award honors undergraduate and graduate students who have worked actively to improve the lives of Black people. Eligible students must have a demonstrated commitment to the field of Black Studies, issues of racial justice, and a minimum GPA of 3.0. The winner will receive $1,000.

Black Studies & Gender and Women's Studies: Open Study Hours
MTWTh | 1-5pm, 1250 UH
Come connect with fellow students, study together, and build community.
Tea, coffee, and snacks will be available. Drop in whenever it fits your schedule!

Asian American Student Academic Program: Low Sensory Space at AASAP
Tuesdays | 9:30-11:30am, 2720 SSB
Looking for a quiet or low-sensory space to relax before heading to classes? Every Tuesday starting 2/11, AASAP will have low light levels, little sound/relaxing music, and calming tools available.

Office of the Dean of Students: U&I Care Meals
Click above to access emergency meal assistance through the U&I Care Meals Program! Limited meals are available each term for UIC students facing urgent food insecurity.

Commuter and Off-Campus Life: Upcoming Events
Click above for exciting events, resources, and opportunities designed for UIC commuter and off-campus students!

Career Services: Upcoming Events
Click above for career prep workshops, career fairs, and more!

Daley Library: Upcoming Events
Click above for fun and engaging events for UIC students!

Counseling Center: Upcoming Events
Click above for popular workshops, peer-support groups, drop-in groups, and other events!

Little Sparks Program: Services and Opportunities for Student-Parents
The Little Sparks Program supports student-parents as they complete their education by providing childcare funding and wrap-around support. They offer things like child care; tuition assistance; diapers, wipes, and formula; student-parent network & events; and community resources.

Resilience: Upcoming Events
Resilience is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the healing and empowerment of sexual assault survivors through non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group trauma therapy, and medical and legal advocacy in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Resilience provides public education and institutional advocacy in order to improve the treatment of sexual assault survivors and to effect positive change in policies and public attitudes toward sexual assault.

- March 10: Winter Journaling and Meditation Support Group
- March 10: Men's Art Support Group
- March 10: Adult Survivors of Childhood of Sexual Assault Support Group
- March 11: Survivor's of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Support Group

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: 5th-8th Grade Caregiver Sex Education Workshop
Thursday, March 6 | 7-8:30pm, Virtual
This workshop helps parents and caregivers learn about healthy sexuality, sexual health, and child development to engage with their students on these topics.

Chicago Women's Health Center: Some Considerations: The Legal Landscape for Queer & Trans Folks
Monday, March 10 | 5:30-6:45, Virtual
The current state of trans- and queer-related law in Illinois will be discussed, along with how to stay informed as the legal landscape evolves.

Chicago Women's Health Center: Menopause Workshop
Saturday, March 15 | 9:30am-12pm, Virtual
We'll explore historical research to challenge misinformation and discuss treatment options, focusing on self-care and community care from a feminist perspective on menopause.

Women Employed: Pattis Family Foundation Summer Leadership Program:
Apply by March 28!
This program offers leadership training, research experience, and insight into challenges faced by low-paid workers, connecting participants to nonprofit work through workshops, speakers, and projects.

Obama Foundation: Voyager Scholarship for Public Service: Apply by April 1!
Rising juniors can receive up to $50,000 in aid, a funded summer trip, networking, and a 10-year travel stipend for public service and global engagement.

HEART: Reproductive Justice Fellowship: Apply by April 7!
HEART’s six-month RJ Fellowship supports 10 Muslims in leading reproductive justice projects with training, funding, and a $1,500 stipend plus a $1,000 grant.

Metropolitan Family Services: 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
April 7 - April 15 | 9am-4pm, 7300 Main St., Downers Grove
This ICDVP-certified in-person 40-hour domestic violence training qualifies for CDVP/PAIP, offers CEUs for various licenses, and provides reduced rates.

YWCA Evanston/North Shore: 40-Hour Domestic Violence Training
April 14 - April 25 | 9am-2pm, 1215 Church St., Evanston
A 40-hour domestic violence training site, approved by ICDVP, covers all required topics through a trauma-informed lens for those working with affected individuals.

UIC Women’s Leadership and Resource Center
& Campus Advocacy Network

1700 Student Services Building (MC 363)
1200 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 413-1025 ∙ wlrc@uic.edu ∙ wlrc.uic.edu

Subscribe:
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Please subscribe to ensure you receive future updates!

Missed a newsletter?
Visit our archive to read recent weekly digests.