“Are you ready to celebrate women?” Erika Walker called out to a packed room at Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood, rising above the clink of glasses and swirl of conversation.

The crowd of elected officials, community leaders, sorority members, and honorees responded with cheers, setting the tone for the seventh annual Hats Off to South Suburban Women celebration, hosted by Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller on Sunday, June 1.

The sold-out event blended style, sisterhood, and civic power. But this year’s gathering also carried the current of political transition.

Miller opened the program by reflecting on her military upbringing and commitment to public service. 

“This is our seventh annual Hats Off to South Suburban Women, a beautiful tradition that celebrates strength, service, and sisterhood,” she said. “I work hard to bring those values with me every day to ensure that our local government remains a lifeline for working families, small businesses, and public health systems.”

She spoke about her advocacy for CPR and AED training, reproductive and maternal health equity, and veterans’ services. She highlighted a $2 million investment in Cook County’s veterans home and described reforms prompted by a woman who was turned away when trying to file for an order of protection after hours. 

“It only takes one person to light that spark,” Miller said.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., followed with a speech that was both personal and pointed. She confirmed she will not seek reelection to the House and instead will run for a U.S. Senate seat.

“I’m not thinking about it,” she said. “I’m running.”

Kelly reflected on the uncertainty she felt before entering public life and urged the audience to embrace leadership in whatever form it takes. 

“You don’t need to be an elected official to lead,” she said. “There are many different roads to the same place. Be your authentic self.”

She closed by reading from a poem about self-worth and boundaries, encouraging the audience to protect their emotional, financial, and spiritual well-being. 

“You cannot change the people around you,” she said. “But you can change the people you choose to be around.”

Kelly also praised Miller’s ability to bring together such a wide and engaged crowd. 

“It’s a huge representation of what the South Suburbs is all about. It’s a reflection of Donna’s leadership that she can bring all these folks together. And the diversity.”

Miller later confirmed she is exploring a run for the 2nd District Congressional seat Kelly will vacate.

The event drew a long list of local officials and community leaders from across the South Suburbs. Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot attended, along with Judge Sandra Ramos, Judge Linzey Jones, Judge Ieshia Gray, and a host of local school board members, mayors, and trustees. Many guests wore pink and green in support of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

GiaVonni Downing, the event’s political director, said the purpose went beyond celebration.

“This is a true celebration of community building and everyone who’s focused on being an allied partner to help our communities thrive.”

Gray said it was powerful to see so many women from across the region united in one room. Mayor Marva Campbell-Pruitt of Sauk Village called it a reminder of how far women have come, and how much further they’re willing to go. 

Felicia Hardy, president of the Southland Development Authority, said Miller has been instrumental in workforce development and health education. 

“She’s helped people understand why things like CPR, blood drives, and access to care matter,” she said.

Dr. Rita McGuire added, “There’s so much power in this room. We’re not just celebrating women. We’re organizing, we’re leading, and we’re setting an example for the next generation.”

That next generation took the stage as 10 students from Southland College Prep were honored for earning full-ride scholarships to colleges across the country. 

One by one, they stood and announced their destinations — Yale, Howard, Stanford, Northwestern, Dickinson, and others — each met with loud applause. Some plan to study medicine, others law or journalism. Many said they hope to return to serve the communities they came from.

As the event wrapped, Miller took a moment to recognize her son Donovan, whose birthday fell on the same day. 

“He had no choice but to be here,” she said with a smile. “But he’s a good son.”