Oakton to Participate in 'One Billion Rising' Global Event

The event is a campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls.

  One in three women will be beaten or raped during their lifetimes. Oakton Community College’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program is joining organizations from more than 160 countries around the world to participate in "One Billion Rising," a campaign calling for one billion men and women to raise awareness about violence against women. At Oakton, students, faculty, staff, and community members will gather, dance, and sing “Break the Chain,” One Billion Rising’s theme song. The event will take place Thursday, Feb. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at the main lobby of the college's campuses in Des Plaines (1600 East Golf Road) and Skokie (7701 North Lincoln Ave.) More than 75 participants are expected to take part in One Billion Rising at the college's …

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Unedited: Eve Ensler, Author of The Vagina Monologues

Author and activist Eve Ensler gave a riveting speech at Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky's 10th Annual Ultimate Women's Power Lunch, speaking of the "horrific atrocities" against women and children she witnessed in the Congo and the "embarrassment" of the lack of support the U.S. has provided for Haiti. You can read the full article here.  Patch caught up with Ensler after the event. Here she speaks of the struggle of unraveling patriarchy, the growing movement of women warriors and how opening yourself to the despair of others can ultimately set you free.

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