Is your department or student organization hosting an event for Women's History Month in March?

If so, please send details to wlrc@uic.edu.

We'll compile and promote them at go.uic.edu/whm!

[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!

This week, we’re focusing on the importance of self-love and embracing what makes us powerful. It’s a time to reflect on the qualities we value in ourselves and the moments that remind us of our inner strength.

What do you love most about yourself? What makes you feel powerful and resilient in tough times?

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

Last week, we asked, "Given the state of the world, what events, movements, or acts of kindness have been giving you hope, inspiration, and faith in humanity? Who do you confide in to share these moments or gain perspective?" 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.]

Wednesday, February 12 | 12-1pm - TODAY!
Zoom
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Celebrate Valentine’s Day by writing love letters to ourselves and the survivors in our lives, while learning how to practice radical self-love.

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

Friday, February 14 | 11am - 1pm
Student Center East, Cardinal Room
Audience: Students, Staff, and Faculty

Come enhance your understanding of what healthy living looks like as a college student! We'll have fun activities and giveaways focused on healthy relationships at our table!

[ID: A red heart surrounded by small health-related icons on a red background. In the center, on a teal background, is white text that describes the Wellness Health Fair.]

Monday, February 17 | 12-2pm
EIEP Lounge, 2065 SELE 
Audience: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional Students

Join us to continue the discussion from our Palentine's Day activities, hang out, and study and craft together!

[ID: "Empower Hours" in large red text with lit-up hearts in the background. At the top is the PERSIST(Σ) logo, a stylized gear with a flower in the center.]

Monday, February 17 | 5-7pm
Latino Cultural Center
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a hands-on workshop to learn the historical significance of the traditional Palestinian embroidery practice, tatreez. Learn to stitch the Star of Bethlehem motif that originated in Palestine and is widely found across Central American and Mexican embroidery. 

[ID: "Tatreez, Bordado, Embroidery" in colorful, stitched text, surrounded by stitched flowers.]

Tuesday, February 18 | 3:30-5:30pm
605 Student Center East
Audience: Everyone (open to the public)

Join us for a performance, screening, and conversation about the short film, One Million Experiments, and the new liberatory possibilities already in the making all around us! Also join us at 3pm to connect with campus and community groups working toward safety without police.

[ID: A person walking in front of an outdoor mural, with their head turned toward the camera. On top of the image is black and white text describing the One Million Experiments event.]

Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 9am - 1pm
SSB Conference Room C
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."]

Due date: Saturday, March 1
Audience: Undergraduate Students

Apply for this paid summer internship that engages with environmental, climate, and social justice issues! Garden Internship (care for garden beds, research and collect stories/recipes, engage monarch conservation) and Photography & Media Internship available!

[ID: A student watering a garden bed with a can. Around them are details about the internship, which can be found at the link above.]

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.]

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: Become a Mentor with AAMP!
February 10, 12, & 14 | Various times, 723 W. Maxwell St. (AARCC)
Interested in mentorship and building leadership skills? The Asian American Mentor Program (AAMP) is hosting info sessions on how to become a mentor!

Black Cultural Center: Black Table Talk: The Woman King
Wednesday: February 12 | 12pm, Addams Hall 207
Join us for our next Black Table talk to watch and then have a conversation about the film, The Woman King.

Disability Cultural Center: Crip Coffee Break: Dating While Disabled
Wednesday, February 12 | 3-4pm, BSB 235 & Virtual
Come as you are! We’ll put a pot of coffee on and we have snacks as well as tea/hot chocolate. Different meetings have different ways for us to hang out together– but we’ll let the conversation be guided by what’s going on in our lives or what’s on our minds.

Asian American Resource and Cultural Center: Short Reads Book Club
Wednesday, February 12 | 4-5pm, 723 W. Maxwell St. (AARCC)
Join the Library's Short Reads Book Club as we read and discuss Curtis Chin’s memoir, Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.

Black Cultural Center: Bloodlines at the Box Office
Thursday, February 13 | 12-2pm, Addams Hall 207
Join for a session that will include a review of scenes from The Woman King to guide the conversation and provide context for a creative activity.

Latino Cultural Center: ARTivism: REVOLUTION – Art Making for Love, Liberation, and Revolution
Thursday, February 13 | 2-4pm, Lecture Center B2
Join us for a drop-in open studio as we explore themes of LOVE in revolution and liberation via art making in honor of Valentine’s Day.

Disability Cultural Center: Crip Coffee Break: Get Crafty: Origami & Wishing Stars
Wednesday, February 19 | 3-4pm, BSB 235 & Virtual
Come as you are! We’ll put a pot of coffee on and we have snacks as well as tea/hot chocolate. Different meetings have different ways for us to hang out together– but we’ll let the conversation be guided by what’s going on in our lives or what’s on our minds.

Black Cultural Center: Diaspora "Wars?": Bridging Conversations and Comparing Perspectives about the Global Black Community
Wednesday, February 19 | 6pm, Addams Hall 207
The event will explore the dynamics of "Diaspora Wars" within the global Black community and its impact on Black student perspectives at UIC. It will feature a panel discussion and open dialogue to foster understanding, build community, and raise awareness.

Arab American Cultural Center: Teach Me How to Dabke
Thursday, February 20 | 5-7pm, SCE 613
Join for a Dabke workshop led by Palestinian dance instructors Mohamed Darwasha and Muhammad Sankari. The workshop will explore Dabke, a powerful expression of Palestinian culture, identity, and resilience, suitable for all skill levels.

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.]

Center for Student Involvement: UIC Black History Month
February 6 - 28 | Various Times & Locations
The UIC Black History Month 2025 Committee invites the campus to celebrate with events honoring the theme "On My Black Job – Labor, Love, and Liberation."

Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Delta Chapter: Valentine's Day Fundraiser
Friday, February 14 | 9am-12pm, In Front of SCE Bookstore
Looking for the perfect Valentine's gift? Show your love with something special for your significant other, friends, or loved ones through our Valentine's Day Fundraiser! Choose from beautiful flowers and unique gifts while supplies last!

Wellness Center: Wellness Health Fair
Friday, February 14 | 11am-1pm, Student Center East, Cardinal Room
Check in on your health, explore new resources, and connect with wellness professionals at this fair, featuring free health screenings, wellness tips, and support from campus and local organizations.

Commuter and Off-Campus Life: Commuter Social: Palentine's Day Party
Friday, February 14 | 11am-1pm, CSRC Innovation Lounge
Join CSRC in celebrating love, friendship, and creativity at our Pal-entine’s Day Party! Make your own Valentine's Day card or origami flower bouquet, and paint something special for your loved ones- all while enjoying sweet and savory snacks. 

Native American Support Program: Interwoven Legacies: A Story of Afro-Native Communities
Tuesday, February 18 | 11am-12:30pn, Student Center West, Thompson Room A
Join us for a lunch-and-learn event on Afro-Native history. The session will explore Afro-Native history, identity, and ways to support Afro-Native communities, with time for discussion and an interactive activity.

Office of Diversity, Equity, & Engagement: Understanding Intersectionality: Historical Consequences of Oppression
Tuesday, February 18 | 11:30am-1pm, Library 1-470
This workshop will utilize individual reflection and collaborative group work to explore topics. There will be a special focus on identifying systems of oppression within higher education and how participants can work to uphold social justice and equity on UIC’s campus.

IRRPP: Bettina Love & David Stovall: A Conversation on Education
Wednesday, February 19 | 4:30-6pm, 1901 W. Carroll Ave (Chicago Teachers Unions, Main Hall)
Join us and the Chicago Teachers Union for a conversation with Dr. Bettina Love and Dr. David Stovall on education and activism.

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.

- Feb 17: Women-Identified Survivors Support Group
- Feb 17: Winter Journaling and Meditation Support Group
- Feb 17: Men's Art Support Group
- Feb 18: Survivors of Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Support Group
- Feb 18: Survivor's Book Club: Free Support Group
- Feb 19: Women-Identified Survivors Support Group

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: Stories of Strength: A Writing Workshop for Adult Survivors
Wednesday, February 19 | 5-7pm, Virtual
This workshop offers a safe space for adult survivors of sexual violence to explore their stories and express emotions through writing. Using guided prompts, participants will focus on healing, building resilience, and celebrating their strength. No prior writing experience is needed, just a willingness to create.

CAASE: Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together
Thursday, February 20 | 3-5pm, Virtual
Surviving the Mic: Virtually Together is an online gathering space for survivors of sexual harm and those who support them, either personally or professionally or both.

Chicago Women's Health Center: Some Considerations: The Legal Landscape for Queer
Monday, March 10 | 5:30-6:45, Virtual
Together, we will discuss the current state of trans- and queer-related law and learn how to stay informed as the legal landscape evolves. This conversation will be focused on the legal context for Illinois-based folks. 

Chicago Women's Health Center: Menopause Workshop
Saturday, March 15 | 9:30am-12pm, Virtual
During this 2.5-hour workshop, we'll explore research throughout history in order to both challenge misinformation and consider treatment options. During our discussion of care, we'll consider both self-care and community care in order to root ourselves in a feminist approach to menopause.

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

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