THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
Joanne H. Alter
July 27, 1927 – November 9, 2008
“In the beginning there was one. One fearless woman who would not take no for an answer. One woman who was unwilling to suppress her ambitions to have a seat at the table of power…Because of Joanne, women of all stripes are now setting the course and the narrative around power, inclusion and equity.” Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago
Barrier-breaking politician, activist, social organizer. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago from 1972 to 1990. Served two terms on the Democratic National Committee. Founded the Illinois Democratic Women’s Political Caucus. Co-founder along with Marion Stone of Working in the Schools (WITS), a tutoring program for at-risk children in Chicago. Founding member of the Friends of the Chicago River, which since 1979 has successfully worked to improve the environmental health of the river and surrounding watershed.
More About Joanne:
- The Joanne H. Alter Women in Government Lecture Series, The Chicago Humanities Festival
- Joanne Alter obituary
- Joanne Alter papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Joanne Alter, Mount Holyoke College, class of 1949
- The Jewish Women’s Archives
- WITS official website
- The Friends of the Chicago River official website
- Wikipedia page