For Immediate Release Oct 13, 2003

Contact: Lynn Otterson

Young Women's Day of Activism

Springfield, IL - The ERA Illinois Needs YOU! will be presented at noon until 1 pm on Thursday, October 23 in PAC G. The event is produced by the Women's Center as a commemoration of the National Day for Young Women's Activism.

Kirsten Curley, Public Information Director of the ERA Illinois
campaign, will review ERA history in Illinois and tell what students can do to get it ratified in Illinois and in the nation - at this very important moment in our history.

The ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)fell short of national ratification in 1982. Since that time, the ERA Illinois campaign has kept the amendment alive in the public eye and in the political process. Last spring, the amendment passed the Illinois House of Representatives in a 76-41 vote. The amendment will shortly come before the State Senate during the veto session.

ERA Illinois lobbyist Kirsten Curley is a graduate of De Paul University in Chicago, where she is currently working on a masters degree.Her talk at UIS will give students information on why their help is needed in the political process and what they can do. Her talk coincides with an ERA Illinois petition campaign organized by the UIS College Democrats with support from the Women's Issues Caucus. The event will also include information on various lobbying and advocacy learning opportunities at UIS.

This event is sponsored by Women's Center with support from the Women's Issues Caucus, Women' Studies, Student Volunteers and Service Learning, & College Democrats. For information call 217.206.7173

NATIONAL YOUNG WOMEN'S DAY OF ACTIVISM was initiated 10 years ago at the Civil Liberties and Public Policy program at Hampshire College. For more information on National Young Women's Day of Activism, visit
http://clpp.hampshire.edu/national_young_womens_day.htm.