County women's award named in Peggy Montes' honor

Defender Staff Report

As a champion of women's rights, Peggy A. Montes chairs the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues and is the driving force behind the creation of the Unsung Heroine Award for the women of Cook County. Additionally, she's an educator, fundraiser, community leader and probably best known as founder-director of the Bronzeville Children's Museum. For the last 27 years, she has volunteered with the DuSable Museum of African American History where she was at the forefront of the effort to build a $3.5 million Harold Washington wing there.

As a way to recognize and salute her remarkable achievements and contributions, the county's award will be renamed the Cook County Commission on Women's Issues: Peggy A. Montes Unsung Heroine Award.

Celebrating Women's History Month, County Board President Todd Stroger, Cook County Board of Commissioners and The Cook County Commission on Women's Issues hosted the 13th Annual Cook County Unsung Heroine Awards Breakfast on March 25 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Every year the Commission honors one woman from each of the 1 7 county districts "for her vital contributions to her community." The award was created in 1995 to advise board members on ways to elevate the status of local women, improve the delivery of services to them and their families and eliminate inequities in laws, practices and conditions which impact Cook County women.

Some 21 women of various racial, economic and occupational backgrounds, including its 17 districts, make up the commission, which is charged with assuring women's issues, and perspectives are considered in the formation of public policy. Just a few of the remarkable women listed on the honor roll: Barbara D. Cole, DeAnna McCleary, Dr. Addie E. Spikner Stanton, Dorothy White and Carol Lisa Alexander. And among the commissioners are Carolyn Curry, Dr. Frances Carroll, 'Ttffany Randle, Jennifer Artis and Mary Morris.