Leslie is a retired nurse and marketing executive and an  Evanston resident for twenty-five years. She is the current President of Women for Evanston Youth, a nonprofit that raises funds for youth charities serving Evanston. We started the Fourth of July celebration in 1922 after a tragic incident when a child was killed by a homemade firework. Everyone she knows loves the annual fireworks at the lakefront and grand parade down Central Street! It’s wonderful fun for the whole family and a safe way to celebrate our nation’s birthday! She is so looking forward to our first celebration since the pandemic and last year’s tragic events in Highland Park, she hopes that everyone in town will be there and will pitch in to make this 100th anniversary celebration the best one we’ve ever had!