Women & Children First Owners Named Among Chicago's Most Powerful

The Chicago Sun-Times recently named Women & Children First bookstore owners Linda Bubon and Ann Christophersen as among "Chicago's 100 Most Powerful Women." The rankings focused on the 10 most powerful women in 10 categories: arts, business, politics, nonprofits, law, sports, philanthropy, healthcare, education, and media. The Sun-Times listed Bubon and Christophersen together as one of the Top 10 most powerful women in the Arts category.

"We felt great [to be chosen]," Christophersen told BTW. "It's pretty thrilling. We know by reputation the other nine women [in the Arts category], and it's great to be in their company, and we're delighted to be among that group -- and to have the store get that publicity."

The Sun-Times reported that its rankings were not based solely on influence or celebrity, nor simply by position or title, "but [on] what a woman does with her position, influence, and talents. Power involves passion, politics, and personality." To create the list, the Sun-Times contacted "experts in each field and asked for the names of notable women in each category." The paper than asked these women to nominate others, and, "after dozens of interviews," the Sun-Times narrowed each category list to a Top 10 and had the women rank themselves in terms of power.

In its profile of Bubon and Christophersen, Sun-Times staff reporter Cheryl Reed described how the two women built up their bookstore from an 800-square-foot "crowded joint in Lincoln Park to a 3,500-square-foot storefront in Andersonville that has become a coveted destination for big-name and first-time authors alike." The Sun-Times profile pointed out that Women & Children First was the only store at which Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) appeared when she came to Chicago last June and that both Bubon and Christophersen have been involved in political activism.

In addition, the article noted that Christophersen is president of ABA and has served as president of the Mayor's Committee on Gay & Lesbian issues and as director of the Crossroads Fund, a "progressive community organizing group." --David Grogan