Chicago Politics

Women’s History Month Reception 3.24.26

Description

Mayor Johnson, city officials and community leaders attend the Women's History Month Reception at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Transcript

0:04 Good evening. Let's give it up one more time for praise production. Name from a woman. You got your name from a woman. You got your game from a woman. Women's History Month. Now, we're not going to call anyone out, but people at the bar, your mothers are not happy.

0:42 Thank you so much. Welcome to the 2026 annual Women's History Month celebration hosted by Mayor Brandon Johnson. You can give it up a little bit better for the mayor. He is here. My name is Leslie Honore. I am a poet, an author, a mother, the CEO of Urban Gateways, and I have the pleasure of serving on the Women's Advisory Council. We're going to try this one more time.

1:18 my dearest my dearest people gathering food and libations now that's respectful thank you so much again tonight i have the honor of being your emcee i'd like to take a moment to recognize and sincerely thank our performers and vendors for today again we want to give a shout out to praise productions our caterer is let's talk women our service is one of my very favorites

1:54 Nobody's darling. We want to give a huge shout out to our wonderful sponsors this evening. We've got Ferreira Candy Company, Gift of Hope, Globetrotters, McDonald's, People's Gas, U.S. Bank, and United Airlines. And now I have the ridiculously wonderful poet's privilege

2:27 of introducing Chicago's new Poet Laureate, Maida de Valle. No, you get an introduction, sit and wait. She is a poet, performer, educator, interdisciplinary artist born and raised on the south side of Chicago. She brings a multidisciplinary practice rooted in poetry,

3:00 performance, music, movement, and cultural history. She's the author of A South Side Girl's Guide to Love and Sex. I need to read that. And the University of Hip Hop. She's the winner of the 2016 Drinking Gore Chatbook Poetry Prize from Northwestern University Press. She launched her career at the New York Ricans Poet Cafe, where she became the 2001 Grand Slam champion before also winning the National Poetry Slam within the same year

3:32 and becoming the youngest poet and the first Latinae person to do so. She has appeared on six episodes of HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Deaf Poetry and was contributing writer and original cast member of the Tony Award-winning Russell Simmons' Deaf Poetry Jam on Broadway. And now, please help me in giving a huge round of applause, hoots, and hollers

4:04 to our very new Poet Laureate, Mayla DeValle. Good evening. Thank you for having me here tonight. Thank you for listening. I'm going to read a poem about my grandmother, but this is really for all of our grandmothers. So I want everyone to think about a woman whose name they may or may not know who made it possible for you to be here today.

4:42 Got it? On the count of three, I would like you to say that name out loud if you know it. One, two, three. This is for Segunda. Abuela, our common thread began in... in my mama's womb. Spun my fetus like a record in her cipher, sampled your stubborn and mixed in her father's posture. Our connection is full circle. Abuela, you bear of children,

5:13 you seer of spirits, you are truly miraculous. You are the whispers of litanies and white lace tablecloths. Your melody is captured in the spilled candle wax of my skin, my tongue's a broken needle scratching through the grooves of a lost wisdom trying to find a faith that beats like yours what secrets do your bones hold what pattern does your dust settle into when I beat these drums inside my ribs what color was the soil of your grandmother's garden

5:44 abuela how did you pray did you store the memory of your creator in strands of hair tucked into scented soap boxes or placentas buried under avocado trees what reservoir are? Did you pull your faith from? Was it anything like this gumbo, this sancocho, this remix of rituals and chants sampled from muscle memory and spirits that visit my dreams that I struggle to stir into discipline, to honor the unseen with these shells, the sage, these rudrashka and rosary beads, these white candles, crystals, statues, sweet water, honey, rum, and sweet grass? Abuela,

6:18 how did you pray before someone told you who your God should be? How did you hold the earth in your hands and thank her for its fecundity? Did the sea wash away your sadness? How did you humble yourself before your architect? Did you lower yourself to your knees or rock to the rhythm of ocean waves like I do? Abuela, how did you pray? Some say faith is for the weak or small-minded, but I search for your faith everywhere. Needed to reassemble myself whole from these shards of Chicago ice and island breezes so I can rewrite the songs of your silence and pain your lonely

6:52 fists broken to smile and burdens into a medley of mantras wish you could have shown me its shape but I know it is here in every sacred breath in the shadows of trees you visit me in in the flicker of flames I stare into searching for what's divine and I know my body is the instrument my maker uses to rearrange the broken chords of your history into a new symphony for my unborn children's feet to dance to and I see you grandmother Gathering with your cistern to chant the names of the living and the dead

7:26 And remind us all that whether gathered in a marble temple Around a midnight fire or block party speakers We have always raised our hands to the sky Trying to touch the invisible force that holds these cells together into a fragile mass Children of different nations, but the same vibration We be sound, to beat, to bass, to bone, to flesh We be sound, to beat, to bass, to bone, to flesh we are all truly miraculous. Thank you. Give it up for all the women in our lives.

8:08 One more time for Chicago's Poet Laureate. And now it is my pleasure to introduce our final speaker and the host of this wonderful celebration, the mayor of the greatest city in the world, Mayor Brandon Johnson. Well, thank you so much for that introduction. Good evening, everyone.

8:40 And welcome to our Women's History Month Reception. Thank you for coming together tonight as we celebrate the women of Chicago's past, our present, who make this the greatest city in the world. We are who we are because of the women in this room and those who have come before us. It is truly my privilege, though, as we get into the rest of my remarks, to have incredible leaders that work side-by-side with me and my administration

9:17 to ensure that we are building the safest, most affordable big city in America. But before I go too far in my remarks, I do want to present this year's D-Case Grant Award that is given each year to a local organization that champions Chicago's women and our girls. And that is why I am proud to announce that our 2026 recipient is Global Girls, Inc.

9:50 Global Girls, Inc. is empowering young women in Chicago with a variety of programming, from performing arts and storytelling to civic and culture. engagement and global travel experiences they have helped over 5 000 girls travel over 30 000 miles around the globe and engage in hundreds of experiences that enable these young people

10:22 to discover and strengthen their skills find their voice and grow into confident leaders I am proud to present the Global Girls Inc. with a $10,000 check to further their role in making sure that Chicago is a city where women are seen, supported, and celebrated. And before I give them their final congratulations, I love her. My 11-year-old baby, can you get her on a flight somewhere quick?

10:58 Because this little girl is doing a whole lot. So if you can fly 30,000 miles around the globe with young girls, put Brayden on your list. One more time, Global Girls League.

11:36 Some incredible women that I can name. So many of them, it would take us all evening to celebrate how women are contributing to the safety and the vibrancy and the beauty of our city. But I do want to recognize a couple. First, let me acknowledge the City of Chicago's Women Advisory Council, including our emcee tonight, and that leather jacket is banging the night.

12:06 Y'all give it up for Leslie Honore. You know, she provides the type of information that our city needs to create the initiatives and programs to ensure that we protect, celebrate, and invest in our women. I also want to acknowledge the members of Chicago City Council Women's Caucus that represent and advocate for not just the women of this city, but our entire city.

12:38 And I see that Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor is here. Thank you for being here. And, of course, the courageous leadership that they provide. I do want to thank the caterer tonight. I'm sorry. I keep checking to make sure I don't have food in my mouth. Because between the chicken egg rolls and everything else that I was eating, let's give it up for the food makers of today. Let's Talk Women is a united hub of women, restaurateurs, and food and beverage makers

13:18 who are strengthening the food industry for women everywhere. But what can we say about Chicago's poet laureate, Ms. Maya Del Valle? But I really came to hear her tonight, and I will say, for maybe a little extra support, I wonder if you can give me some poems that I can use during my press conferences.

13:50 And I could just read a poem from Ms. Devaye, and maybe that would get them to act right. But there are so many women from my administration that are here tonight. I do want to thank the work of all of the women who make this city such a miraculous place to live. But I do want to shout out our Deputy Mayor, Acting Commissioner, Ms. Kenya Merritt, our Community Engagement Chief, Sarah Mathers.

14:22 And by the way, this is, I don't think I've ever seen Sarah sitting this long. So I don't know if that means something is not being done or everything has been complete. But I can't express how grateful I am to have such courageous women who are a part of my administration. Listen, I'll just close with these words. My wife could not be here tonight because our daughter Brayden has decided that she wants to express more of her athleticism.

15:00 And so she made the girls' traveling volleyball team, and I was excited until she told me how much it cost. So, saying, listen, the brother hadn't had a raise in three years, I'm just saying, for the sake of my baby girl and her volleyball competition. My wife is someone who, many of you have had interactions with her. She is not one for the spotlight. It's just, it's not her nature. But quite frankly, there are a lot of women who do work in silence

15:34 and have such great imprint on how we build society. And I would not be the person that I am today without a strong partner by my side. And so in her absence, please just a round of applause for our First Lady. You know, on another note, by the way, I know Leslie asked if you were named by a woman. And I couldn't clap because, believe it or not, my mother didn't name me.

16:08 In fact, if she had her way, my name would be Seth. I know, right? Like, who's going to vote for somebody named Seth? And my father was like, no, you've got to give him two syllables. Let me just read what's on the paper here. But it says women just make me feel so comfortable. I could just be myself and just share all that has been on my heart. But across our city, women excel and lead in every single space.

16:41 The artists, entrepreneurs, educators. Shout out to our educators that are in the room tonight. You know, but they're also advocates, public servants, entrepreneurs, but community builders. We have this great program called the Missing Middle, which is an effort to repopulate the west and south sides of the city of Chicago with housing and owner-occupied housing so we can build generational wealth.

17:12 And we have black women who are participating in that effort to actually build the very communities in which for a very long time have unfortunately ignored them. And speaking of which, as much as we come together to celebrate women and all of their indelible contributions to society, our women are still under significant and severe attack by government. I have to be honest with you. I'm quite disappointed that the city council decided to undo the wages of tip workers

17:51 that are overwhelmingly black and brown women. and somehow in their belief that $12 an hour is driving businesses out of Chicago. And I'm saying this understanding that black women and entrepreneurs are also a part of the infrastructure that hires people. But what we're not going to tolerate is pitting black businesses, particularly small ones, against the workers who actually drive the businesses to be successful.

18:22 We can do both in Chicago. We can support small businesses and ensure that black and brown women are paid justly. Because they're the ones who fuel our economy, they strengthen our neighborhoods, and they push this city to be great every single day. It's during Women's History Month that Chicago honors women and lifts them up. And that's why I'm prepared to veto what City Council did to ensure that we protect the wages of black and brown women in this city.

18:55 So as we honor women, not just of our past, women who have organized, who have spoke up and refused to accept less than what they deserve, Let's keep in mind the work of Jane Addams and Ida B. Wells and Mother Cabrini and Karen Lewis and so many others that have fought for progress that allows us to be in here today. In Chicago, we honor women by making sure that women and girls across the city have every single resource and opportunity that they need to lead, to feel safe, and to thrive.

19:29 My administration will continue to invest in girls through programs like Chicago Youth Works, introducing young people to career pathways and opportunities that will shape their futures. This summer, we anticipate hiring, yet again, over 29,000 young people through our Chicago Youth Works program, ensuring that girls in every single neighborhood can explore their interests, strengthen their skills, and be paid for their contributions to our city. my minister

20:00 is working hard to ensure that women are included and treated fairly in the workplace by building the most pro-worker city in the country. And again, as we continue to ensure that we protect equitable pay for the very women who drive our economy, I'm going to need you all to stand shoulder to shoulder to ensure that our economy and our politics does not continue to blame black and brown women for the failures of the ultra-rich and big corporations in our city and in our country.

20:35 So our administration works to keep women and all of our community safe through our community safety plans, especially through our investments in gender-based violence and human trafficking task force that is focused on bringing women together to eradicate violence against women in Chicago. I want to give you this promise that my administration is working so that Chicago remains a haven for freedom and democracy. And that means standing up and fighting back when the Trump administration threatens Chicago families and women in all of our communities.

21:08 Chicago will always be a city where women can have access to health care, find opportunities that can plant roots and thrive. I'm humbled to be with you all today. I truly am. You know, there's only one human being on the planet that is always right. And that's my wife. And here's the thing, she's not alone. Here's what I appreciate about women. I'm off script now.

21:40 My speech actually ended two pages ago. But here's what I appreciate about women. Women are not only always right, even when they get it wrong, which is rare, they're still right. And you know what they say? Even if they get it wrong, you know what I meant. How about our performers of our young ladies who performed at night?

22:12 Here's to always being right and to the greatest freaking city in the world. To our women, the city of Chicago. God bless you all.

Sources and methods: how we get and count this data · report an error