International Women Associates upcoming events

Go Behind the Scenes at CASL: Community in Action (06/16/2026)

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

10:00am - 11:30am

2141 South Tan Court

Join us for a special behind-the-scenes visit to the Chinese American Service League (CASL), a cornerstone of Chicago’s Asian American community since 1978. For nearly five decades, CASL has empowered families through education, family support, and vital social services. Come experience its impact firsthand through a guided tour of its facilities.

Continue the experience with a hands-on Chinese calligraphy workshop, where you’ll learn basic brush techniques and create your own artwork to take home.

Wrap up with an optional group lunch in Chinatown, a perfect way to connect while enjoying the neighborhood’s vibrant culinary scene.

Don’t miss this unique blend of culture, creativity, and community!

Space is limited to 25 IWA members and guests.

Contact: Ying Hirsh

North Shore June - Summer Potluck (06/18/2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Thursday, June 18, 2026

11:30 am - 2:00 pm

IWA Member Sharon Cambell's Home in Evanston

(address given upon registration)

Please come for lunch outdoors (weather permitting) and a possible stroll to the lakefront after eating! Any dishes are welcome! Our IWA potlucks are so delicious and diverse.

Please specify the dish you are bringing so we can make sure we have a good variety of items. Remember to bring serving utensils for your dish.

RSVP by Tuesday June 16

Hostess/Contact: Sharon Campbell

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (06/19/2026)

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Mah Jongg (06/23/2026)

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join your IWA friends in a fun and friendly game of Mah Jongg! There is nothing more exciting than when, with your heart racing, your adrenaline pumping, your palms sweating, and you call "Mah Jongg"!

ALL LEVELS ARE WELCOME! A refresher lesson will be given at the beginning of each meeting.

Folding Cranes (07/01/2026)

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. for folding (origami)

12:15 p.m. optional lunch out at local restaurant

Location: IWA Member, Weriem’s Home & Studio in Andersonville (Address given upon registration)

Join us for a final session of folding cranes for the Cranes for Peace Project at the home of Weriem. Members new to folding cranes are welcome! Come and learn a new craft and at the same time meet up with old friends and make new ones!

Sharon and others will instruct those who haven’t learned to fold in earlier sessions, but those who already know how to fold cranes will continue to fold the 'official IWA blue paper' cranes for the project.

To learn more about the project and how to fold cranes, click on the link: Cranes4Peace.com. Included in this link is a video showing how to fold cranes.

Crane folding through the art of Japanese origami. According to a Japanese legend, cranes live for 1,000 years. Folding 1,000 cranes (senbazuru) grants one wish, most commonly health-related or a symbol of peace.

IWA will join other organizations in creating a 1,000 cranes mobile by participating in the Cranes for Peace Project, established by Japanese Culture Center and Osaka Chicago Sister Cities Committee, to promote peace in Chicago and beyond. This multi-organization installment will begin its public display journey this fall in the 900 North Michigan atrium. The IWA origami workshop will serve as an opportunity for members to learn about the project and to be a part of this meaningful initiative.

Maximum 13 registrants.

Please indicate interest in lunch out when registering.

Contacts:

Sharon Campbell and Weriem

Independence Day - Office Closed (07/03/2026)

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The IWA Office will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day.

Thank you for understanding!

Literature Discussion: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico (07/13/2026)

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Book: Perfection
Author: Vincenzo Latronico

Discussion Leader: Myra Balesi

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Book Description: "Perfection—Vincenzo Latronico's first book to be translated into English and long listed for the International Booker —is a scathing novel about contemporary existence, a tale of two people gradually waking up to find themselves in various traps, wondering how it all came to be. Was it a lack of foresight, or were they just born too late?"

The Literature Group offers members an international perspective in literary fiction by introducing acclaimed, if sometimes lesser known, writers and books. Members are invited to attend by Zoom, although we request that only those who have read the book participate in discussion.

Evening Meet and Greet (07/15/2026)

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Wednesday July 15, 2026

4:00 - 6:00 PM

Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub, 400 North McClurg Court

You are invited to join IWA friends for our monthly IWA Meet and Greet: Happy Hour at Lizzie McNeill's on the Chicago Riverwalk.

www.lizziemcneills.com

In case of inclement weather we will meet indoors at Lizzie

Maximum: 25 IWA members and prospective members

Bridge (07/20/2026)

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (07/24/2026)

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Chicago Botanic Garden Concert, Glencoe (rain or shine) (08/04/2026)

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Location: Chicago Botanic Gardens, McGinley Pavilion (overlooking the Great Basin and Evening Island). In case of rain at Nichols Hall. 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe.

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Chicago Botanic Garden will host a Morning Music carillon performance featuring guest carillonneur Jess Ip.

This meditative musical performance runs rain or shine (moving to Nichols Hall in the event of inclement weather). Visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or simply stroll the grounds while listening. Soak in the view of the Garden's lakes and Evening Island as you listen to a relaxing musical performance.

Performer: Jess Ip is currently a student at MIT. She began learning the carillon under Joey Brink and later Alex Johnson during her undergraduate years at the University of Chicago. During her time there, she also served as a board member and the vice president of the UChicago Guild of Carillonists. In 2023, she became a carillonist member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. She has since performed in summer concert series across the East Coast, including in Philadelphia, Boston, and Vermont.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket.

Cost: Concert is Free for the public. Parking per car for non-members is $10 for seniors (62+) and $25 for general public. Free parking for members. Carpooling is encouraged.

Contact: Nicola Crowe

Literature Discussion: The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (08/10/2026)

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Book: The Listeners
Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Discussion Leader: D. Clancy

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (08/14/2026)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Bridge (08/17/2026)

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Labor Day - Office Closed (09/07/2026)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:00:00 GMT

The IWA Office will be closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

Thank you for understanding!

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (09/11/2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Literature Discussion: The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (09/14/2026)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Book: The Mountains Sing
Author: Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Discussion Leader: Yoko Kusama

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Bridge (09/21/2026)

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (09/25/2026)

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (10/02/2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (10/09/2026)

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (10/16/2026)

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Literature Discussion: The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue (10/19/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:30:00 GMT

Book: The Paris Express
Author: Emma Donoghue

Discussion Leader: Susan Engelhart

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Bridge (10/19/2026)

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (10/23/2026)

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Committee Meeting: 2026 Annual Fundraising Celebration (Invitation Only) (10/30/2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:30:00 GMT

Literature Discussion: The Granddaughter by Bernhard Schlink (11/09/2026)

Mon, 09 Nov 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Book: The Granddaughter
Author: Bernhard Schlink

Discussion Leader: Barbara Herzog

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Bridge (11/16/2026)

Mon, 16 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Thanksgiving Day - Office Closed (11/26/2026)

Thu, 26 Nov 2026 06:00:00 GMT

The IWA Office will be closed Thursday, November 26 in observance of Thanksgiving Day.

Thank you for understanding!

Literature Discussion: The Women by Kristin Hannah (12/14/2026)

Mon, 14 Dec 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Book: The Women
Author: Kristin Hannah

Discussion Leader: Teresa Kennedy

Literature Discussion Chairs: Teresa Kennedy and Barbara Herzog

Bridge (12/21/2026)

Mon, 21 Dec 2026 19:00:00 GMT

This monthly event is for all interested Bridge players, and includes members who play Basic Social Bridge as well as Intermediate/Advanced Bridge players.

(Please be aware that you need a basic knowledge of

Bridge in order to participate).

Christmas Day - Office Closed (12/25/2026)

Fri, 25 Dec 2026 06:00:00 GMT

The IWA Office will be closed Friday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day.

Thank you for understanding!