Agenda action: Kiernan Shipka, Laury Shelley, Ta’Rhonda Jones

March 2, 2017

Chicago.suntimes.com | By Bill Zwecker

Kiernan Shipka (from left) is seen with her "Mad Men" co-stars Christina Hendricks and January Jones at a L.A. book-signing of Matthew Weiner's "Mad Men" book. | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Kiernan Shipka (from left) is seen with her “Mad Men” co-stars Christina Hendricks and January Jones at a L.A. book-signing of Matthew Weiner’s “Mad Men” book. | Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In honor of Women’s History Month, Chicago native and actress Kiernan Shipka (“Mad Men”) brings to life the story of legendary Chicago social worker and activist Jane Addams by reading a critically acclaimed children’s book about Addams, “The House that Jane Built,” written by Tanya Lee Stone. Shipka’s performance is part of the “Storyline Online” video series produced by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation of the national union representing both actors and actresses and on-air broadcasters on TV and radio.

To access this latest video, go to storylineonline.net or subscribe to youtube.com/storylineonline. The site previously has featured readings by such stars as Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones and Rita Moreno.

Addams founded the Hull House settlement house to help the poor in Chicago in 1889 and dedicated her life to being an activist for the disadvantaged in the inner city. She became the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931.

Shipka concludes her video reading with a personal message: “Reading is magical for so many reasons. It can bring you to amazing, magical places that are beyond your wildest dreams, but it can also give you amazing, valuable and  inspiring information.”

Shipka also plays the daughter of Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon) on “Feud,” a limited series premiering Sunday on FX.