Young women from colleges across Illinois will gather in Chicago on Wednesday, June 3, for the 2009 National Education for Women’s Leadership Illinois (NEWL) program. NEW Leadership Illinois is a non-partisan residential program for college juniors and seniors designed to increase women's representation in all elements of public life, including elected office.

The seminar will continue through Sunday and will be held on the campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The program, sponsored by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at University of Illinois and the Conference of Women Legislators of the Illinois General Assembly (COWL), challenges Illinois’ brightest students to think critically and creatively about public policy. It encourages young women to make a commitment to public leadership early in their careers.

“The young women…can have one-on-one time with elected officials, and learn how they got to be where they are,” said Rep. Kathy Ryg, D-Vernon Hills, co-chair of the event.

Numerous experienced leaders will act as faculty in residence, including COWL co-chairs Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, and Rep. Sandra Pihos, R-Glen Ellyn. Former public officials, including former U.S. Secretary of Labor Lynn Martin, and former Lieutenant Governor Corinne Wood, will give keynote addresses.

Panel discussions and activities will help participants develop leadership skills. Participants will learn about current public policy issues with the guidance of University of Illinois faculty and others. Students will also see policy in action by visiting the James R. Thompson Center and the Chicago City Council chambers. The program will culminate in a group policy analysis project, in which students practice their new skills by presenting their findings in a mock legislative committee hearing.

“We provide the opportunity of five days of intense training to be in public life, and then hopefully…they will return and do something in public life,” said NEWL co-chair Rep. Patricia Bellock, R-Westmont.