These are difficult times for people who value an inclusive, progressive, and hopeful America. Yet there is hope bubbling up all around us as lifelong organizers and activists join with new converts to fight back against harmful policies emanating from Springfield and Washington. 

In Illinois, we'd like to help accelerate this process by hosting a large one day "resource fair" where activists, professional organizers, 1st-timers, and everyone in between can come together and channel their energies and frustrations into local organizations doing work right here, right now. 

Working with a host committee of 50+ committed and experienced organizers and activists, we want to provide professional development opportunities for people seeking employment in the progressive movement while also offering local organizations who are hiring or foresee doing so in the coming months, a convenient opportunity to gather resumes. 

Beyond those seeking employment, we want to help harness the incredible energy of those looking to volunteer with any one of the more than 90 local partners that are engaged in progressive organizing, community building, and political activism throughout the Chicagoland area. We’ve invited organizations focusing on the following areas:

o Women's rights
o Healthcare/Obamacare
o LGBTQ
o Environment
o Democratic Organizations/Campaigns
o Voting rights and expanded voter access
o Civil Rights
o Criminal Justice Reform
o Gun Violence Prevention
o Economic Justice/Organized Labor
o Religious Organizing
o Immigration
o Youth Issues
o ***As organizations confirm their particpation, we'll list them here**

CTU’s Center can accommodate over 1,000 people with multiple breakout rooms being made available. That will allow us to set up all the participating organizations in a “science fair” setting in the main hall to let attendees engage with the groups in attendance, while running simultaneous professional development breakouts and additional trainings and workshops with partnered groups and presenters. Programming details are forthcoming.

Help spread the word online by sharing the event and using the#ILResistance tag. Together, we'll help build the movement and advance justice and equality in Illinois.

Questions? Concerns? Ideas? Want to have your organization particpate? Contact us at ilresistancefair@gmail.com.