CTU Honors Legacy of Karen Lewis with Memoir Launch and Powerful Panel Discussion
CTU Honors Legacy of Karen Lewis with Memoir Launch and Powerful Panel Discussion
The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) hosted a moving and powerful panel discussion in celebration of the launch of I Didn’t Come Here to Lie, the memoir of the late CTU President Karen Lewis. Held at CTU headquarters—reverently known as “the house that Karen built”—the event drew a crowd of union members, educators, and community leaders all gathered to honor Lewis’ lasting legacy.
The evening featured reflections from biography co-author and historian Elizabeth Todd-Breland; CTU President Stacy Davis Gates; former CTU President Jesse Sharkey; and award-winning journalist Ben Joravsky, who covered Lewis extensively throughout her tenure. Each speaker shared personal insights and stories highlighting Lewis’ transformative leadership, fearless advocacy, and unwavering commitment to justice.
Stacy Davis Gates, who penned the book’s afterword, offered a heartfelt tribute:
“I haven’t synthesized that she’s the only person I’ve wanted to talk to every day since taking this job,” Davis Gates shared. “There was no blueprint, model or understanding of how powerful it could be to fight for children with community.”
Karen Lewis redefined what union leadership could look like—especially for a Black woman leading a union unapologetically fighting for the rights of Black women, brown people, the LGBTQIA+ community, and all who seek sanctuary in a just and equitable public education system.
The memoir, published by Haymarket Press, is now available for purchase and stands as a powerful testament to Lewis' revolutionary vision, sharp intellect, and unshakable belief in the power of collective action.
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