Celebrating Women's History
Month in Ravenswood | |
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Our personal favorite time of year is here: March is Women's History Month! Here at the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce, we’re celebrating by shining a spotlight on just a few of the showstopping women who make our community a better place to live, work, and everything in between.
This past week has been a whirlwind! We had the privilege of visiting five women-owned businesses around the neighborhood to chat about their journeys, challenges, and triumphs—along the way, we laughed, we teared up, we got inspired, and we ended up on the receiving end of some pretty incredible advice. We've transcribed these interviews for you below and encourage you to read more on our website.
The women featured here stand not only as pillars of the Ravenswood community and masters of their respective fields, but as examples to us all. Through their work, they’ve created spaces for empowerment, creative innovation, and genuine connection—strengthening the fabric of our neighborhood in ways both big and small. We hope these stories leave you as inspired as we were, and maybe even encourage you to stop by, say hello, and support these incredible local businesses.
Yours in service,
Grace Pulliam + Christina Pecce
GRCC Outreach Coordinator + Associate Director
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Lucila Giagrande — Lucila's Alfajores
We sat down with Lucila in her production kitchen on a Monday. It was a well-timed visit: on Mondays, the cookies get baked and filled with dulce de leche caramel. Lucila and her team have been handmaking alfajores—delicious Argentinian treats—in kitchens around Chicago since 2010, finally landing in their current facility on Ravenswood Ave a handful of years ago.
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"It hasn’t always been easy, but as Lucila tells it, 'I was never afraid I would fail. It never crossed my mind.'
I asked her what advice she had for young entrepreneurs, particularly women, for whom the thought of failure can loom large. 'Don’t be afraid, and don’t underestimate yourself. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. It takes a lot of grit.'”
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Margaret O'Conor — Common Pantry
Common Pantry, the longest continually operating food pantry in Chicago, is preparing for service when we arrive. The woman at the helm is Margaret O’Conor. Eight years into directorship, she’s one of the busiest people in the city, having led the pantry through the COVID-19 pandemic, the move to their new facility on Lincoln Ave, the launch of an online ordering system, SNAP cuts, and more.
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"...We watched as so many moving parts came together to form the beautiful and resilient thing we call community. It’s easy for something like that to seem impossible... Margaret brought up a quote from Nelson Mandela that made it click, one that has become something of a mantra among the Common Pantry team: 'It always seems impossible until it’s done.'"
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Liz Krebs — Krebs Financial
“I wanted to do it on my own terms,” is how Liz Krebs describes the decision to start her own business. We sit down with her just days before the 22nd anniversary of Krebs Financial. In the beginning, it was a part-time venture...Today, Krebs Financial is a neighborhood institution dedicated to helping women and families shape their financial futures on their own terms.
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"The Krebs Financial office is based here in Ravenswood, which Liz describes as 'the perfect live-work community' where friends and neighbors become clients and clients so often become friends.
...her work has impacted hundreds of lives and family, embedding greater financial security and confidence into the fabric of the community."
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Amy Hansen — Amy's Candy Bar
Ever wondered what it takes to be a master confectioner? Amy Hansen is the woman behind Amy’s Candy Bar on Damen Ave, one of Ravenswood’s sweetest neighborhood institutions.
Amy’s love of candy started long before she opened her shop. As a kid, she spent hours in the kitchen with her grandmother, learning the rhythms of baking—measuring flour, melting butter, and perfecting family recipes side by side.
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"...for Amy, the heart of the business has always been the neighborhood. Families stop in after school. Couples order custom treats for weddings and celebrations. And more than a decade after opening, the shop continues to make Ravenswood a pretty sweet place to live."
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Kelly Hernandez — K Collaborative
We sat down with Kelly Hernandez to talk about the story behind K Collaborative, her one-woman creative studio dedicated largely to supporting women-owned businesses. he launched K Collaborative as a deliberately small, highly personal consultancy, designed to work closely with clients rather than scale into a traditional agency. Today, roughly 90 percent of Kelly’s portfolio consists of women-owned and women-led businesses, along with a number of nonprofits.
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"When asked what advice she’d give young women entrepreneurs, Kelly didn’t hesitate: ask questions.
'You won’t know everything,' she said. 'Recognizing what you don’t know and asking for help is powerful.' For Kelly, leadership is less about having all the answers and more about learning continuously—and lifting others up along the way."
| | Women Leaders in Business Quarterly Programs | | The GRCC's Women Leaders in Business series is expanding to quarterly events in 2026! Last year we marked a decade of this beloved program, and we're honoring that milestone by bringing you more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. We hope to see you there! | | |
Saturday, March 28th from 10am-11:30am at Artifact Events. Register Here.
Kick off International Women’s Day with Mimosas & Momentum, a morning of inspiration, connection, and celebration! This exclusive networking event is designed for women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and professionals looking to expand their networks in a welcoming and empowering environment. GRCC Members: email Christina to receive a discount code for $10 off your ticket.
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Thursday, May 21st from 4pm-6pm at KOVAL Distillery. Save The Date.
Join us at KOVAL Distillery for our Women Leaders in Business: Spring Networking Event! Be inspired by a panel of dynamic women entrepreneurs, then mingle with a showcase of talented women-owned businesses — think creative activities, samples, and more. It's a vibrant celebration of the women who make Ravenswood's business community so exceptional.
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Wednesday, July 1st from 4pm-6pm at Common Pantry. Save The Date.
Give back with us at our Women Leaders in Business: Service Day at Common Pantry! A small group of volunteers will come together to restock the shelves of this women-led nonprofit, supporting neighbors in need right here in our community. It's a meaningful opportunity to connect with fellow women leaders while making a real difference in the neighborhood.
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Wednesday, November 4th from 9am-11am at Bon Femmes Studio. Save The Date.
Join us at the Bon Femmes Studio for our Women Leaders in Business: Creative Coffee event. Connect with local leaders, entrepreneurs, and artisans over coffee while getting creative with a fun hands-on activity by Lena Rose Beauty, perfect for gifting or a little self-care. It's a beautiful way to expand your network and treat yourself at the same time!
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