Twenty-five years ago, four people rose from the LGBT community and founded the Illinois Federation for Human Rights, which we all know today as Equality Illinois.
Recognizing that vision of activism rising from the community, Equality Illinois in LGBT Pride Month of 2016 starts a new tradition of paying tribute to our Super Volunteers. To kick off this tradition, we decided to say thank you to three extraordinary people: Charlie Jungwirth, Charlie Rice-Minoso, and Christin Grost. These three people have gone above and beyond, leading field teams activating voters, spearheading events, and encapsulating the essence of Equality Illinois through the years.
Everyone is welcome to volunteer. Please go here to sign up.
Charlie Rice-Minoso has been at the forefront of this organization for so many years. Charlie helped lead our field efforts during the marriage equality campaign through organizing multiple phone banks in critical legislative districts, encouraging people to contact their lawmakers. He has assisted in fostering a partnership with the Chicago White Sox. Along with helping create and execute our first baseball event, Out At The Sox, which is currently in it’s fourth year.
Charlie Jungwirth is someone who makes everyone feel like they belong at the Equality Illinois table. Charlie is the person who always responds with a zealous yes to all of our appeals for assistance. Every year, you will find him overseeing the Equality Illinois booth at pretty much all Chicago street festivals. In 2014, he played a starring role in our electoral Get Out the Vote efforts during the Get Your V-Card campaign. Charlie Jungwirth is our champion ambassador in every aspect of our work: field, policy, and development.
The entire Equality Illinois team is forever indebted to Christine Grost. Christine has literally put a face on our organization, through channeling her visionary photography skills. Most recently, her images expressed the experiences of our 2016 gala attendees meeting our keynote speaker, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. By photographing the diversity of support for our work, Christine captured on film our motto, that our work will continue UNTIL WE’RE ALL EQUAL.
These recipients were recognized at the Equality Illinois Tribute Reception-A Taste of Pride on June 2, 2016.