Pink Line

Click on each woman's name to learn more.

54th/Cermak
Vlasta Krsek (1937-2020) “International Queen of Polka”

Cicero
Judy Baar Topinka (1944-2014)  Illinois State Representatives and Senator; Illinois State Treasurer

Kostner
Ertharin Cousin (born 1957) White House Liaison to the State Department, COO of Feeding America, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme

Pulaski
Lillian Herstein (1886-1983) Teacher, labor leader, co-founder of the Farmer Labor Party, Woman Consultant for the US War Production Board

Central Park
Pearl Hart (1890-1975) First women to practice criminal law in Chicago; advocate for immigrants; “Guardian Angel of Chicago’s Gay Community”

Kedzie
Angela Perez Miller (1937-2007) Teacher and administrator for Chicago Public Schools; professor; expert in bilingual education and educational policy

California
Guadalupe Reyes (1918-2000) Founder of Esperanza, a school for disabled children, and El Valor which provides employment and life-skills training for disabled adults

Western
Teresa Fraga (born 1944) Activist and community organizer

Damen
Emma Lozano (born 1955) Pastor and community activist; founder of Centro Sin Fronteras and co-founder of Familia Latina Unida

18th St.
Helen Valdez Co-founder of the Mexican Fine Arts Center (now the National Museum of Mexican Art)

Polk
Florence Scala (1918-2007) Little Italy activist

Ashland
Fannie Hagen Emanuel (1871-1934) Physician and reformer; founder of the Emanuel Settlement House

Morgan
Oprah Winfrey (born 1954) Talk show host, actor, author, philanthropist, “Queen of Media”

Clinton
Mary Wallace (born ~1950) First female CTA bus driver

Want to learn more about the other amazing women of this project?  Check out our blog!