Russ will also discuss her ongoing work to collect oral histories of local women and to document the contributions women have made to our community. Russ launched The Michiana Women Leaders Project in 2014 and has recently formed Michiana Women Leaders, Inc., a nonprofit corporation dedicated to enhancing awareness and education, documenting women’s contributions to our community, celebrating diversity of individual experiences, and giving voice to the female experience in our community.

Russ will talk about the organization’s growth and plans, including the annual Celebrating Michiana Women Leaders event held on Women’s Equality Day each year since 2015, additional community events, and the upcoming launch of the organization’s website, michianawomenleaders.org.

Russ is an author, activist, attorney, and associate professor of communication studies at Saint Mary’s College. She holds a Ph.D. from Purdue University and a J.D. from DePaul University. Her upcoming book, a collection of women’s stories drawn from her work with The Michiana Women Leaders Project, is in production with Wolfson Press.

This event is free and open to the public. Attendees are welcome to arrive early to purchase lunch before the talk.