PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Carolyn Bird Salazar, Chair, kcdw@kcdwomen.com
Kane County Democratic Women Hosts an Educational Presentation on Food Insecurity entitled “Filling a Plate: Educating a Mind”
ST. CHARLES, April 17, 2026 – The Kane County Democratic Women (KCDW) will host a presentation about a young student’s mission to fulfill basic needs and bring hope and literacy to children and young women both locally and internationally. Navya Shah, a student at Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, saw the disparity in communities at home and abroad when she traveled with her parents internationally as a young child, and she decided that she wanted to do something about it. This led to the establishment of a Naperville-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, Empower Futurewave Foundation, which she leads with the help of her younger sister and other students. In 2025, the foundation provided 6,000 meals to domestic violence and community shelters in our area. Local restaurants partner with the foundation to donate unused and fresh food that the team of students deliver.
Navya will speak about her journey and efforts on Thursday evening, May 21, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Batavia Public Library, 10 South Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL. The purpose of the presentation is to bring the community together to find ways to reduce food insecurity and also learn about ways to use our talents and skills to make a difference in the lives of people in our neighborhoods and throughout the world. Navya realized early on that she could not make a big difference by herself, so she approached community leaders and educators wherever she went and asked for volunteers. Today, the foundation provides food, education classes, and mental health counseling to children and young women. Kane County Democratic Women will be collecting food items to donate to the Empower Futurewave mission. Join us to learn about the needs in the community and ways you might want to help. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions from the audience. The presentation is free and open to the public.
ABOUT THE KANE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: The mission of the KCDW is to harness the political power of Democratic women to create positive social change through engagement, education, and empowerment. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Meetings alternate between Oak Street Restaurant in Aurora and Carmina’s Restaurant in Elgin. For more information, contact Carolyn Bird Salazar, Chair, at kcdw@kcdwomen.com
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