Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Training Academy began when Loretta Durbin was considering ways to get more Democratic women elected to public office. At the 2000 Democratic National Convention, she issued a call to women willing to build a training program for Democratic women across Illinois. Thirty Illinois Democratic women leaders answered that call. Through their conviction, collaboration, and hard work, IWIL Training Academy was born.

“IWIL started with friendships and to help women to get trained in order to win public office.”

-Loretta Durbin, Founding Mother of IWIL

With a volunteer team and generous seed funding from Senator Dick Durbin, IWIL was launched. From the start, organized labor, trial lawyers, Democratic elected officials, and policy, media, and political experts played a foundational role in shaping a high-quality program.The inaugural Class of 2002 consisted of 12 delegates, all inspired to run for public office.

IWIL Class of 2002 with Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi at 2002 IWIL Fundraiser

Nearly 25 years later, that small group of dedicated Democratic women has grown into a premier training organization led by a distinguished Board of Directors and professional staff. Many of the original Founding Mothers, trainers ,and advisors continue to support the program today.

Since our founding, we have trained more than 270 women, with over 60% running for public office. More than 100 alumnae have gone on to serve at every level of government—from the U.S. Congress and Lieutenant Governor’s office to the State Legislature and local governments across Illinois.

Thanks to the vision and action of our Founding Mothers, IWIL Training Academy continues to train Democratic, pro-choice women to run for office—and win.

Founding Mothers

*Margaret Blackshere

*Hon. Barb Brown

Carolyn Brown Hodge

*Hon. Dawn Clark Netsch

Sharon Corrigan

Hon. Ertharin Cousin

Loretta Durbin

Bonnie Ettinger

Hon. Barbara Flynn Currie

*Jackie Gallagher

*Mary Harkrader

Linda Hawker

Margaret Houlihan

*Hon. Lovana Jones

Ann Kalayil

Katherine Laing

Hon. Lisa Madigan

Hon. Iris Y. Martinez

*Hon. Shirley McCombs

*Iola McGowan

Amalia Rioja

*Billie Paige

Hon. Carol Ronen

Anne Roosevelt

Hon. Jan Schakowsky

*Linda Sher

Hon. Bobbie Steele

*In Loving Memory