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SpeakOut Illinois is the state’s premiere pro-life conference. Sponsored by the SpeakOut Illinois Coalition, a group of pro-life and pro-family groups from across the state, this conference will equip you to fight for your values in the coming year. At SpeakOut Illinois 2020 you can learn about the various groups working in our state, meet and collaborate with fellow pro-lifers, and get energized for the coming year.
This year’s conference will feature keynote speaker Mary-Louise Hengesbaugh of Girls’ Health First. Mary-Louise served as the Respect Life Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 2003 to 2010, when she left that post to welcome her first adopted son, Ben. She and her husband, attorney Brian Hengesbaugh, subsequently adopted their second son, Tom, and welcomed their daughter Elizabeth in 2017. Mary-Louise is the board chair of Illinois Citizens for Ethics, Political Action Committee, as well as founder and chair of Girls’ Health First, her response to Illinois’ extreme abortion law of 2019.
Pastor Cesar LeFlore will receive the Henry Hyde Life Leadership Award. Pastor LeFlore is the founder and executive director of The Beloved Community Development Coalition, working for community transformation in the south east suburbs of Chicago. He is published author, and holds positions with several pro-life and pro-family ministries both here in Illinois and nationally, including Life Education and Research Network (LEARN), Illinois Family Institute, the Southland Coalition for Life, and 40 Days for Life. Pastor LeFlore served for 14 years as Associate Pastor of New Community Church.