Aurora honored impactful women in the community at this week’s City Council meeting on what was International Women’s Day.
The honors also came during what is National Women’s Month across the country. Aurora recognized its own female employees at City Hall, as well as some Women of Influence in the community.
A large group of female employees at City Hall lined up as part of the new Power Women Resource Group, designed to create a “safe space” where women can learn and support each other, according to Michele Williams, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion director at the city.
Using the theme “Stop the Bias,” Williams said the new organization gives people a chance to celebrate, but also “an opportunity to reflect on how much needs to be done.”
She noted that women still earn less than men, and for Hispanic and Black women, the disparity is worse.
“Our mission is to accelerate the development of women,” she said.
City officials also took the time to honor women from the community who were nominated for Women of Influence awards by the four women on the City Council.
Ald. Juany Garza, 2nd Ward, nominated Claudia Soto Urrutia, a business owner who is involved in many community organizations. She is part owner of La Quinta de los Reyes restaurant downtown.
Urrutia came to Aurora when she was 18 years old, and said she accepted the award for “those great women who flee their country in search of a better life.”
Ald. Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward, nominated Dr. Sharon Ollee, a long-time African-American doctor in Aurora. Hart-Burns called Ollee “loving, kind and a great listener.”
“She cares about what you care about,” she said.
Ald. Patty Smith, 8th Ward, nominated Karri Friedenberger, who formed Team Tiny Feet as part of the March of Dimes to raise money for the organization. Friedenberger’s own daughters, born very premature, were able to come home from the hospital. But many do not, and the March of Dimes is dedicated to research on premature birth.
“I do this for the families that just want to bring their babies home,” Friendenberger said.
She added that her “latest mission” is health equity, saying Black women have a 50% higher chance of premature births, and Hispanic women a 30% higher chance.
“There should not be that kind of disparity in the United States of America,” she said.
Smith said Team Tiny Feet has raised more than $500,000 for the March of Dimes. The team now has 100 people involved with fundraising, she said.
“She wants other families to have the experience they did,” Smith said.
Ald. Shweta Baid, 10th Ward, nominated Kathy Szeszol, an artist and teacher and also a member of the DuPage Art League who is looking to open a studio in Aurora to teach women art.
“She’s a silent worker in the community,” Baid said. “She is a quiet volunteer. We should support women who want to do creative things in the community.”
Szeszol said she is “a great proponent of pushing women because we need that power.”
