Welcome to the League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. For More Than 100 Years.

Do you want to attract more birds and pollinators to your yard?

Are your current maintenance practices supporting them and our local ecosystems?

Come and learn with us! Go home with great ideas!

Dr. Doug Tallamy, renowned expert on natural ecosystems and co-founder of Homegrown National Park, will present insights into surprising natural processes unfolding in our own yards. Dr. Tallamy is an entomologist, conservationist, and professor at the University of Delaware, whose work has transformed our understanding of the relationship between native plants and wildlife.

After the presentation, attendees can speak with experts and enthusiasts from the local organizations represented to ask more about how our yards interact with native savannas, wetlands, prairies, and woodlands that surround us. These experts will provide helpful information about topics such as introducing more native plants to your yard, providing habitat for birds and pollinators, deterring pests and managing weeds in environmentally safer ways, using autumn leaves to promote beneficial life and more.

Hosted by League of Women Voters of Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Area

REGISTRATION REQUIRED - Use the button below to register.

$10 per individual, $15 per family. Space is limited.

Attendees can sign up at the event to win a “Prairie in the Garden” tour for 6 with Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra. Tours to other local native gardens will be offered.

Birds, Butterflies & Blooms: The Wonder of Nature in Your Own Backyard - 5/3/2026

LWV's Celina Stewart, Senators Schumer, Padilla, Representative Morelle, and Voting Rights Advocates Reject SAVE America Act

"The American people are not fooled by empty promises or political theater. We have seen this Administration pledge to protect our freedoms while simultaneously working to dismantle them," said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. "Make no mistake: the SAVE America Act is one of the most brazen attacks on women’s voting rights in the League’s 106-year history."

Read the Press Release Here

Unite and Rise 8.5:

An Initiative to Defend Democracy

Unite and Rise

is Now

Streaming

In its commitment to encourage civic action, the League of Women Voters (LWV) has launched its Unite and Rise 8.5 YouTube video series with three episodes. Hosted by LWV CEO Celina Stewart, the videos highlight the League’s historic commitment to advancing women’s leadership and inspiring communities to take meaningful civic action.

Episode One: Meeting the Moment Stewart and guest discuss how community mobilization, nonviolent strategy, and civic engagement remain essential tools for protecting democratic institutions today.

Episode Two: Partnership, Faith, and Defending Democracy Stewart and guests converse about women’s leadership in different movements, the intersection of faith and activism, and how spiritual traditions drive political participation.

Episode Three: How to Engage Young Voters Stewart and her guest explore young people’s tangible, youth-led projects that build a sense of agency and impact.

Unite & Rise 8.5 aims to build a movement of 8.5 million individuals to unite and rise up against the anti-democratic actions of this administration. 8.5 million is the estimated number of voters it would take to bring about change through nonviolent protest, based off a finding from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights.

Get Action Alerts on Your Phone

We're using the League in Action app to organize and take action—here’s how to sign up:

Download the app on your cell phone (available via the App Store and Google Play)
Sign in with your Google or Facebook account, or create an account with your email
Search for the League of Women Voters Illinois on the app and click the Join button
Scroll through the feed to see all of the ways you can support LWV's efforts

WASHINGTON, DC — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today called on Congress to launch an immediate and independent investigation into a series of recent use-of-force incidents involving federal immigration enforcement personnel. LULAC is joined in this call by Common Cause and the League of Women Voters, reflecting a broad, nonpartisan, cross-sector concern about transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance. Read more at this link: LULAC, Joined by Leading Legacy Civil Rights Organizations, Calls for Congressional Investigation Into Recent Federal Immigration Enforcement Actions | League of Women Voters

Click Here for the LWVUS Member Portal

Our Year In Review: 2025

JANUARY - Let’s Connect, an informal get-together in local coffee shops continued, the archival
work continued, and the LWV -LF/LB collection is now available online at LFLB History Center
FEBRUARY - Program Planning reviewed positions held by LWV IL and LWV LFLB, members
attended LWV IL’s Issues Briefing in Naperville and on zoom
MARCH - LWV LFLB hosted “In League” a spotlight on sustainability in LF and LB with the
commission chairs from LF and LB governments, the voter service committee hosted a
candidate forum for LB Elementary School candidates, LWV LC’s leadership for the Federal
Judiciary Study kicked off with an evening zoom with IL Supreme Court Justice Liz Rochford
APRIL - The program committee hosted a panel discussion of "Environmental Stewardship: The
Future of Public/Private Collaboration" at Gorton, LWVLFLB members attended Legislative
Interviews with Julie Morrison IL29th Senator and Bob Morgan IL 58th House Rep
MAY - LWV LFLB board prepared for the Annual Meeting
JUNE – Hosted LWV-LF/LB’s Annual Meeting, updated Nominating Systems Position, picnic with
the new/old board picnic, attended LWV IL’s very informative Biennial Convention
JULY – We marched in LB’s 4th of July parade and held board orientation
AUGUST - GVP zoom webinar prep on law enforcement and guns, marched in LF Day parade
and won 2nd place, wrote comment on City of LF’s suddden drop of oversight Legal Committee
SEPTEMBER – staffed ten sites for Voter Registration Day, GVP zoom webinar on the 2nd
Amendment
OCTOBER – GVP webinar on gun violence data, consensus meeting on LWV IL Gun Violence
Prevention position update, hosted member-led discussion on zoom of local nominating
systems group, members participated strongly in the No Kings Rallies at multiple sites
NOVEMBER – Fall kickoff event featuring County Clerk Anthony Vega, sponsored an
immigration talk featuring personal tales from our own LWV members
DECEMBER – Holiday Luncheon with LWV-LF history revue, for 100 th birthday including a
fundraiser and Catt Award, renewed the 501c3 vs c4 discussion to prep for annual meeting

Ongoing efforts include the informal Let’s Connect meetups, a massive data entry preparatory
to the Vote411 voter guide launch in 2026, prep for the Defend Democracy Drop-In February

kick-off, continuing social media advocacy posts on Facebook and Instagram, and LWV-LF/LB’s
Voter newsletter – which has a fantastic open rate!

Who We Are and What We Do

The League of Women Voters believes responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy, maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, and adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.

Voter information, education, registration, and support for voters.

Observation and study of local governmental entities. Issue-based advocacy in our community, in Illinois, and in Washington D.C.

Nonpartisan sponsorship of candidate debates and forums.

In-depth education about current issues facing voters in local, state, and national elections.