McHenry County NOW

January Chapter Meeting
2025-01-09 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our January Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

An evening honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
2025-01-17 17:00 - 19:00 UTC
*MARK YOUR CALENDAR*
Join us for a special evening honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Friday, January 17,2025
McHenry County College, Luecht Auditorium
Doors open at 5:30pm
Pastor Dr. Norval Brown,
Master of Ceremonies
At 6 p.m., we’ll begin our program followed by a documentary screening that highlights Dr. King’s incredible impact on civil rights and social justice.
After the film, we’ll have an inspiring discussion and dive deeper into Dr. King’s message and how it resonates in today’s world.
REGISTER HERE: An Evening Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King

Noise For NOW: The 3rd Annual Abortion Access Benefit Series
2025-01-25 20:00 - 2025-01-26 00:00 UTC

February Chapter Meeting
2025-02-13 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our February Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

Black History Reflection
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 UTC
Join us Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Cary Area Public Library for an evening reflecting on Black history. We will honor the contributions of Black individuals throughout history.
As a community we’ll be viewing a documentary together, then engaging in meaningful follow up discussions afterward.
Lets come together to reflect on the past and look toward a brighter future.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to support local Black owned businesses.
Hosted by: McHenry County NOW

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month Workshop presented by Turning Point Domestic Violence Services
2025-02-26 18:00 - 19:00 UTC
Please join us! A presentation and workshop for starting the conversation about Teen Dating Violence and Healthy Relationships with the teens in your life.
https://turnpt.org/teenworkshop/
Teens and adults welcome!

United We Resist - International Women's Day!
2025-03-08 11:00 - 13:00 UTC
📢 UNITED WE RESIST!
On International Women’s Day Saturday March 8th from 11am-1pm, it seems fitting that we’re taking to the streets with our friends & neighbors who care about the constant attacks on the Rights of Women, People of Color, the LGBTQIA+ community, Veterans, those with Disabilities, Low income families, Seniors, Farmers & our Migrant/Refugee families in this country.
NOW is the time we stand up in the name of HUMANITY and refuse to accept our rights & freedoms in this country being stripped away every day.
NOW is the time to hold our elected officials who support fascism accountable, and to expect our elected officials who support democracy to show up and fight for it alongside us!
When we look back at this timeline in history, let’s look back confident that WE RESISTED, WE REFUSED TO BE SILENT, and WE REFUSED TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY while our Democracy was being destroyed before our very eyes!
TOGETHER, neighbor beside neighbor, we will fight fascism!
Sign up here: https://action.womensmarch.com
Exchange Dr & Route 14 Crystal Lake, IL
5260 NORTHWEST HWY
Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
United States
PARK IN OUTER PERIMETER OF THE LOT SPACES ONLY – BUSINESSES NEED TO HAVE AMPLE OPEN PARKING FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS ASSEMBLE IN THE GRASS AREA IN FRONT OF THE FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

March Chapter Meeting
2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our March Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

MAJOR! Documentary Screening
2025-03-29 19:00 UTC
Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation is honored to host a screening of MAJOR! which explores the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a formerly incarcerated Black transgender elder and activist who has been fighting for the rights of trans women of color for over 40 years. MAJOR! will be shown on Saturday, March 29 at 7 pm at the church, 5603 W. Bull Valley Road in McHenry.
The film is co-sponsored by Tree of Life, McHenry County NOW, and McHenry County Citizens for Choice. Admission is free and open to the public. Freewill donations will be held to support the work of the Transformative Justice Law Project which provides free legal services for trans and gender non-conforming people.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is a veteran of the Stonewall Rebellion and a survivor of Attica State Prison, a former sex worker, an elder, and a community leader and human rights activist. She is simply “Mama” to many in her community. Her personal story and activism for transgender civil rights intersects struggles for justice and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people (LGBTQ+) from the 1960s to today. At the center of her activism is her fierce advocacy for her girls, trans women of color who have survived police brutality and incarceration in men’s jails and prisons.
MAJOR! was an official selection at over 60 film festivals around the world and garnered 20 awards for best documentary. Miss Major’s story offers a roadmap for social justice movements lead by and for transgender women of color, and a unique opportunity to learn from living elders.
Light refreshments will be provided and an open discussion will follow the movie.
“MAJOR! is both a challenging and inspirational film, ” states Chaplain Dave Becker, pastor at Tree of Life, “and it is particularly relevant at this moment in time when so many of the rights that Miss Major fought so hard for are being rolled back. Hosting this film is part of our faith’s larger commitment to honoring the inherent worthiness and dignity of all people which includes our trans and gender non-conforming siblings.”
This program was organized by the Tree of Life’s Welcoming Congregation Team, members of the congregation who help lead the church community’s commitment to welcome, inclusion, and belonging of the LGBTQ+ community with the congregation. Tree of Life has been engaged in the national Unitarian Universalist Association’s Welcoming Congregation Project since 2004.

United We Resist
2025-04-05 11:00 - 13:00 UTC
📢 UNITED WE RESIST
Next stop on our roadside rally tour:
Algonquin, IL
We’re mobilizing once again to stop the assault on our country and Constitution!
We’ll be joining rallies/protests across the country happening on the same day.
We’re taking to the streets with our friends & neighbors who care about the constant attacks on the Rights of Women, People of Color, the LGBTQIA+ community, Veterans, those with Disabilities, Low income families, Seniors, Farmers & our Migrant/Refugee families in this country to defend our freedoms, our rights, and our future!
When those in power try to silence us, we RESIST even louder!
When they attack our communities, we fight back with our neighbors, TOGETHER!
Bring signs, bring your family/friends, let’s do this again and again!!
*PARK IN THE REAR/OVERFLOW JEWEL OSCO SPACES CLOSEST TO RANDALL ROAD ONLY
REGISTER HERE:

April Chapter Meeting
2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our April Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

Will County NOW Presents Financial Literacy for Women
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:30 UTC
Join us for Financial Literacy for Women!
Date: Tue Apr 29 2025
Time: 7:00 PM CDT Online Event
Description: Are you ready to take control of your finances? Will County NOW is excited to present a virtual event focused on financial literacy specifically for women. Learn valuable tips and tricks to help you manage your money, plan for the future, and achieve your financial goals. Don’t miss out on this empowering opportunity to gain financial independence!
Location: Online (Zoom link will be mailed to registrants the day before the event)
Topics include:
Financial literacy basics (saving, budgeting, debt management, goal setting)
Common mistakes women make with their finances and how to avoid them
How to protect your personal finances when you are in a difficult situation
A brief Q&A session will follow the presentation
Our Speaker
Dansen Mayhay is a dedicated Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, bringing a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to her role. With a distinguished career in the nonprofit sector, Dansen has worked on multiple levels, from case management to overseeing the training program at the Midwest’s largest LGBTQ community organization. Her expertise in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training has impacted Fortune 500 companies, grassroots organizations, higher education institutions, and government entities.
About Us
Will County NOW is the Will County, IL chapter of the National Organization for Women.
As the grassroots arm of the women’s movement, the National Organization for Women is dedicated to its multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights, and is the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States. NOW has hundreds of chapters and hundreds of thousands of members and activists in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
https://willcountynow.org

May Chapter Meeting
2025-05-08 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our May Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

The SAVE Act: What it Means for Women in Illinois
2025-05-22 07:00 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for what will be an essential primer on how this legislation will hurt millions of voters in the United States!
REGISTER NOW: bit.ly/3SH8lJy

June Chapter Meeting
2025-06-12 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our June Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

Woodstock PRIDE
2025-06-15 11:00 - 17:00 UTC
Join us for the 7th anniversary of the Woodstock PrideFest! We will have a weekend full of activities, with the main event happening on Sunday, June 15th, starting with an extended parade at 11am and a festival from 12-5pm with food, entertainment, vendors and more!
We’ve come a long way from the very first Kids PrideFest and evolved into a two day celebration.
Sunday – experience the most colorful parade in McHenry County at our EXTENDED parade route at 11 am. We follow that right up with our day long festival on the Historic Woodstock Square. With entertainment, speakers, vendors and more, this is the PLACE TO BE!
Stay tuned as we announce more great things and events.

Free America Weekend
2025-07-04
More info to come!

July Chapter Meeting
2025-07-10 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our July Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

2025 National NOW Conference
2025-07-11 08:00 - 2025-07-13 17:00 UTC | Sahara Las Vegas, 2535 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
NOW’s Resistance Movement Against the Misogynist Agenda
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend in Las Vegas, July 11–13! Dive into energizing workshops, hear from powerful speakers, join vibrant caucuses, and connect with fellow feminists for a weekend packed with purpose and passion.
Las Vegas will be the stage where we shape the future—don’t miss the election of our National Officers for the 2025–2029 term.
Information & more

Conference Agenda
Speakers & Awardees
Workshops
National NOW Officer Candidates
Bylaws & Resolutions
NOW Conference Volunteer Signup
Remembering NOW Leaders 2025
Conference Rules
Childcare
ADA Accommodations

John Lewis Day of Remembrance and Action - Good Trouble Lives on
2025-07-17
More info to come!
https://goodtroubleliveson.org/

August Chapter Meeting
2025-08-14 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our August Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

September Chapter Meeting
2025-09-11 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our September Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

2025 Illinois NOW State Conference
2025-09-27 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | Smith Hall, North Central College, 30 N Brainard St, Naperville, IL, 60540, United States

October Chapter Meeting
2025-10-09 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our October Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

Period Action Day 2025
2025-10-11
A GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION TO END PERIOD POVERTY AND STIGMA THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE.
https://period.org/
https://www.periodactionday.com/

NO Kings Protests - All Day
2025-10-18 11:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
In June, we mobilized millions of people to take to the streets and declare with one voice: America has no kings. Trump’s birthday parade was drowned out by protests in all 50 states and throughout the world. His attempt to turn June 14 into a coronation backfired, and the story of the day was about the strength of a movement rising against his authoritarian power grabs.
The millions of people who turned out in June helped create one of the largest single days of protest in US history, and their courage and commitment set an example for others to follow. Since then, we’ve seen more and more political leaders and institutions choosing to resist the regime rather than play dead.
But we knew June 14 was just the start. Trump is doubling down on his authoritarian tactics. He is disappearing immigrants to sprawling concentration camps, sending troops into our cities, threatening to interfere in elections, rigging maps to steal power from the voters, and orchestrating a massive giveaway to his billionaire allies as families struggle.
Trump is ramping up his attacks on our rights and democracy, but we’re not backing down. On October 18, we’re taking to the streets in more cities and in larger numbers to remind Trump, his cronies, and those on the sidelines looking for hope: America has no kings.
Some other locations where protests are taking place: No Kings

Find a #NoKings Rally Near You

Illinois NOW Fall State Council Meeting
2025-11-02 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
The LEF will meet from 12:00 – 12:30.
The State Council meeting will run from 12:30 – 16:00. All NOW members are welcome to attend the meeting, but only state officers will be able to vote on any candidates or resolutions. Details to join the meeting can be obtained from Susan at nowillinois@gmail.com

November Chapter Meeting
2025-11-13 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our November Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

December Chapter Meeting
2025-12-11 18:30 - 20:00 UTC
Please join us for our December Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.

McHenry County NOW Chapter Meeting- January
2026-01-08 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
All are welcome!
Please join us for our January Chapter meeting. For more information send email to mchconow@Outlook.com.
