For Immediate Release:
Wednesday February 13, 2019
Contact:
Toby Trimmer, Communications Director
(217) 622-7547 | toby@ildcca.org

IDCCA Announces 2019 Party Builder Award Recipients

Honorees to be celebrated during Chicago Reception in March

 SPRINGFIELD, IllinoisThe Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association today announced their selection of three activists who have dedicated their lives to growing the power of both the Democratic Party and constituencies within it. The recipients will be celebrated with a planned reception on Monday, March 4 at the Iridium Conference Center in Chicago.

“The Party Builders we are proud to honor this year reflect how diverse the Democratic Party is in Illinois.” said Kristina Zahorik, President of the IDCCA.

The three award recipients are Chicago’s 43rd Ward Democratic Committeeman Lucy Moog; longtime labor activist and former United Food & Commercial Workers Local 881 President and former UFCW International Vice President Ron Powell, and; posthumously honored, Public Relations trailblazer Desiree Tate, who was a longtime community organizer and public relations advisor for scores of elected Democrats, including Chicago mayors and President Barack Obama. Tate passed away unexpectedly in May 2019.

“There is so much that is different about the individual work of Lucy, Ron and Desiree, but there is a remarkable commonality they hold,” Zahorik said. “They stand together on a solid foundation of engaging ordinary people to gather, raise their voices and fight for a stronger working and middle-class in our communities, our state and the nation. They’re natural partnership builders and, consequently, have had a large hand in building the Democratic Party.”

The Party Builder Award was created by the IDCCA in 2017 to highlight and honor the lifetime achievements of activists who built and strengthened the grassroots efforts of the Democratic Party. Here are the details of the Chicago reception honoring the recipients:

IDCCA Chicago Reception & Party Builder Awards Celebration

When:      Monday, March 4, 2019  |  5:30pm – 7:00pm

Where:     Iridium Conference Center  |  77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago

RSVP:      Bit.ly/ChiReception2019  or  www.ILDCCA.org

ABOUT THE 2019 PARTY BUILDER AWARD RECIPIENTS

LUCY MOOG 43rd Ward Democratic Committeeman

Lucy Moog is a longtime Democratic activist known for her passion for grassroots organizing and community action. Moog is well known for her vision to build a ward community where citizens are engaged in the political process by advocating on behalf of candidates, issues and causes they care about. As Committeeman, Lucy sees to inspire activism in politics to build a stronger local Democratic base.

Lucy has been involved in Democratic politics since she was young. She led community outreach efforts on four presidential campaigns, as well as numerous gubernatorial and congressional races. She served as the District Director for the 5th Congressional District from 1997 to 2002. In 2007, she helped lead an effort to launch the critically acclaimed environmental advocacy campaign and public art project “Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet,” which has since exhibited in 18 cities worldwide. Lucy’s personal Cool Globe creation was selected among a myriad of finalists to be displayed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

After attending Francis W. Parker School in Lincoln Park, Lucy studied government and psychology at Connecticut College. Upon graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C. to work on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant focusing on health care and reproductive rights issues. Lucy returned to her Lincoln Park community five years later, building a career and a family.

Lucy has served as a member of the Board of the Chicago Sinai Congregation and serves on the Advisory Committee of Chicago Ideas Week’s YOU(th) initiative. She is a dedicated volunteer with Personal PAC, the Know Tomorrow movement and Francis W. Parker Parents’ Association.

A devoted Cubs fan through thick and thin, Lucy and her husband, Matt, live with their three boys in Lincoln Park.

RONALD E. POWELL | former President, Local 881 and former UFCW International Vice President

Since 1983, Ron Powell has served as President of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 881. His career in the American Labor Movement spans over five decades. Under Powell’s direction, Local 881 has become a leading progressive and innovative voice for workers and union members in the areas of worksite representation, membership services, benefits, communications, and political engagement.

In addition to leading Local 881 as President, Powell serves as a Vice President on the UFCW International Executive Board; a Vice President of the Illinois State AFL-CIO; and a Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health Benefits and Pension Funds. Ron Powell has consistently volunteered his time and efforts on behalf of labor-minded political candidates at all levels of government. Ron recently retired from his positions with UFCW in January of 2019.

Ron Powell has been an active Democrat throughout Illinois and was elected as a Delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1996, 2000, and 2008.

DESIREE L. TATE | CEO, Tate & Associates, community action leader & advisor to Democrats (awarded posthumously)

Desiree Tate was a Chicago-based public relations consultant who worked for the late Mayor Harold Washington, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and President Barack Obama. Regarded by many as a pioneer for African-American women entering the world of politics and public relations, Tate passed away at age 62 on May 28, 2018.

As a tireless advocate for Chicago and Illinois, Desiree Tate helped build support for some of the state’s most memorable leaders. She was active and influential inside dozens of successful Democratic campaigns and quiet in her service to advise the decisions of scores of elected leaders.

Prior to her passing, Tate was one of the strongest advocates for directing the bid to bring the Obama Presidential Center to Chicago, working closely with the Obama Foundation to ensure the mission of the center would strengthen community engagement.

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About the IDCCA…

The Illinois Democratic County Chairs’ Association (IDCCA) is a statewide, grassroots Democratic Party organization comprised of the elected Democratic County Chairs in all 102 counties in Illinois. The mission of the IDCCA is to help elect Democrats in every county and region of Illinois while continuing to grow the Democratic Party throughout the state. McHenry County Chair Kristina Zahorik is the President of the IDCCA.

Learn more at www.ildcca.orgwww.facebook.com/ILDCCA and www.twitter.com/ILDCCA