On September 10th, EverThrive Illinois hosted our Annual “Advancing Courageous Change” Gala at Venue West Chicago. The event began with our reception, where guests mingled, enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres and EverThrive Illinois-themed cocktails, bid on silent auction items, and participated in our wine pull. The energy was electric; people were laughing, taking pictures, and having great conversations. The wine pull was one of the highlights, with our volunteer staff cheering people on as they excitedly took a chance to win a wine bottle to take home. Following the reception was the main program, which included remarks from selected speakers, dinner, a video presentation, and awarding our two honorees of the night.
This year, we wanted our event to be centered around hope; that one can dream of a future where Reproductive Justice is a reality. This theme felt especially relevant at this time, with the reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision, the continuing maternal health crisis, and social safety nets becoming more inaccessible due to federal policies. We wanted to help inspire people to keep hope alive.
Guests were delighted to find paper leaf cut-outs and pens at their table. The intention was for guests to write down a wish, dream, or hope for the future of reproductive justice in Illinois. Danata Andrews, Advisory Board Member, reflected that “each leaf represents an individual voice and a shared vision for the future. Together, the leaves symbolize the collective growth we hope to cultivate as an organization and as a movement.”
This idea of collective growth and a shared vision was further illustrated later in the night, when our Renee Friedman – Druzinsky Health Equity Champion Awardee, Dr. Juanita Mora, and our 2026 Change Maker Awardee, the Irving Harris Foundation (accepted by Denise Castillo Dell Isola), both remarked on their support for marginalized communities and how they envision a world where everyone can thrive.
The program was followed by Tashya Kyles, EverThrive IL Outreach Worker, who expressed her hope that we can one day live in a world where everyone receives the care and support they deserve. In the middle of her remarks, she said it best, “To make that future possible, we need investment in our communities.”
EverThrive Illinois has been around for nearly 40 years, and our policy work, our community engagement, and our partnerships have all contributed to advancing health equity for communities that have experienced injustice. We are going to continue that work by meeting people where they are, giving them a voice, and advocating for them so that one day the achievement of Reproductive Justice won’t just be a dream; it will be a reality.
Everyone has a role to play in creating a future where every family in Illinois can thrive. We’re asking that you take that role one step further by donating to EverThrive Illinois. Your support allows us to be there when families need it most, to strengthen health equity, stand up for communities, advance systems change, and help build a future that is more just, more equitable, and more affirming to every Illinoisian.
This event would not have been possible without all our sponsors, EverThrive Illinois’ board members, the Advancing Courageous Change Gala Committee, staff, all of our donors, and everyone who came to celebrate. We also want to send a special thank-you to Venue West, Brionna Poole, who photographed the evening, and to Shawn Brooks Media, who put together a video highlighting the importance of EverThrive Illinois’ work over the years.
You can relive the highlights of the evening by:
Reading the Advancing Courageous Change Program Book
