Sara Nelson -- Association of Flight Attendants President  -- keynote speaker

 Sometimes  referred to as the Labor Movement’s modern-day “Mother Jones,” Sara  Nelson is current President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.  Sara came to national prominence in January 2019 when she called for a  General Strike in response to the Federal Government Shutdown. The  Shutdown ended shortly thereafter.

Like Mother Jones, it seems there’s not a picket line Sara Nelson has  not been on in the last few years nor a major struggle she has not been  engaged in.

Asked about her love of Mother Jones, Sara responded: “When I first  became involved in my union, I told a mentor I didn’t know much about  the broader labor movement and asked for something to read. The first  book he handed me was ‘The Autobiograpy of Mother Jones.’ I’ve never  stopped reading it.”

It also appears Sara Nelson hasn’t stopped living it

Brendan McKinney, Bagpipes

Brendan was born in Michigan to Irish immigrant parents fromKerry and Derry. He won the Senior All Ireland competition inthe Highland Pipes in 1973.With his wife Siobhan, Brendanopened opened Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant in 1999, aplace known as the mecca of Irish culture in Chicago.

Brigid Duffy as Mother Jones

Brigid Duffy, a native of County Longford, appeared at American Conservatory Theatre, Drury Lane Water Tower, Steppenwolf , Goodman, Irish Rep., Victory Gardens and Northlight. As a Sarah Siddons Scholarship winner, Brigid attended the Goodman School of Drama and has an M.A. in Theatre. She was a CPS teacher for 35 years and won the prestigious Golden Apple Award. Brigid appears in the film “A Christmas Movie Christmas,” “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Fire” and can be seen in the upcoming “Somebody Somewhere” and Toyota’s Christmas commercial. She brought fire to the Mother Jones character in our recent production of "A Table for Two".

Brian Weddington as the young A. Phillip Randolph

Brian  is Managing Director of Theatre Arts and Co-Founder the HHW School for Performing Arts, a past instructor Communication with both City Colleges Chicago University Illinois Some his creative works include: Episodes NBC’s Fire Med, hit movie Barbershop 2; Kennedy Center’s theater production “The Darker Face Earth” Thieves Carnival”, which was performed at Southwest Moscow 

Kathy Cowan, Vocalist

Acclaimed singer and actor, Kathy Cowan has performedwith The Paul Winter Consort, The Ruth Page DanceFoundation, Doc Severinsen, many symphonies, and at theKennedy Center. She toured for more than a decade with herband Kiltartan Road, delighting audiences and garneringcritical praise. A member of the faculties of the Old TownSchool of Folk Music and Northeastern Illinois University, Ms.Cowan’s most recent projects include From Ireland, aprogram about the Irish immigrant experience, and St. Janeand the Wicked Wicks, a musical play in which she portraysJane Addams.

SAG-AFTRA Singers

Suzi Petri, Suzy Brack Ashley Dearborn, John Green, Joe Wright

Nathan Mason, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

Special Greeting from Chicago's Deputy Mayor

Meet the Artists and Vote your desired quotes for our new monument. 

Award to Lori Lightfoot, former Mayor