IIT Chicago-Kent to co-sponsor a Chicago mayoral forum on February 15

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law has joined with the Center on Halsted, Chicago Alliance against Sexual Exploitation, Chicago Foundation for Women, Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network and Rape Victim Advocates to present a Chicago mayoral candidates forum to address strategies for ending violence against women. The program will be held February 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the law school's Governor Richard B. Ogilvie Auditorium, 565 West Adams Street (between Clinton and Jefferson streets) in Chicago. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

All mayoral candidates have been invited to participate. A reception beginning at 7:30 p.m. will follow.

According to the organizers, the leadership of the City of Chicago has a stake in developing strategies that concentrate on eradicating violence against women and a responsibility to protect the public. Sponsoring organizations are all committed to ending domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, prostitution and other forms of violence against women, girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and questioning (LGBTQ) people through direct services, policy and legislative advocacy, and public education.

This forum provides an opportunity for all candidates to educate the public on the strategies and plans they would implement, if elected, to address the issue of violence against women, girls and LGBTQ people. Allison Cuddy, host of WBEZ-FM's "Eight Forty-Eight," will moderate the discussion. Cuddy will ask the candidates questions gathered from the constituencies of the sponsoring organizations.

This nonpartisan community forum is free and open to the public. All sponsoring organizations are 501(c)(3) entities or organizations and do not support or oppose any candidates for public office. The use or distribution of campaign materials is prohibited at the forum. This is a nonpartisan event meant only for public education purposes.