Diversity and Inclusion Newsletter – March 2021

March 1, 2021

National Woman’s History Month

March is National Women’s History Month, which recognizes women’s accomplishments throughout history. This is a time to look critically at equality and opportunities for women, and to educate people on women’s history…much of which was overlooked for many years. We celebrate women in March, and throughout the year. Take some time to teach new generations the importance of women. We have come a long way, but there is still much work to be done.

National Women’s History Facts:

Every Women’s History Month has a theme.The 2021 theme is “Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced.”
The legacy of Women’s History Month can be traced back to the first International Women’s Day held in 1911.
The public philosopher and suffragist Jane Addams was the first woman laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Hatshepsut of ancient Egypt’s 18th dynasty was the only female pharaoh recorded in history.

5 Things You Can Do:

During the month of March, people around the world celebrate the contributions women have made to society. Here are a few ways you can celebrate the importance of women:

Support your local women-owned businesses
Do something kind for a woman you love
Advocate for equality
Educate others
Donate money to organizations that promote women’s issues

Women Who Have Changed The World

Susan B. Anthony

1820 – 1906

Susan B. Anthony co-founded the
American Equal Rights Association
and the National Woman Suffrage
Association to fight for women’s
right to vote.

Althea Gibson

1927 – 2003

In 1956, Gibson was the first AfricanAmerican to win a Grand Slam title.
The following year she won both
Wimbledon and US Nationals.

Harriet Tubman

1820 – 1913

Harriet Tubman was enslaved,
escaped, and helped others gain
their freedom on the Underground
Railroad.

Margaret Thatcher

1925 – 2013

Thatcher was the first female
British Prime Minister. Nicknamed
the “Iron Lady” because of her
uncompromising politics and
leadership style.

Marie Curie

1867 – 1934

In 1903 Marie Curie was awarded a Nobel Prize in physics, and in 1911 became the first woman to win a second Nobel Prize

Madeline Albright

1937 – Present

Albright was the first female U.S.
Secretary of State. She paved the
way for many women including
Condoleezza Rice, the first AfricanAmerican Secretary of State.

Hayley’s Hot Takes

Committee member Hayley Phillips’ guide on what to read, watch and shop for during National Women’s History Month.

WHERE TO SHOP

The Little Market
This aesthetically pleasing store helps underserved communities by
purchasing handmade goods from artisans around the world. Click
here for more info.

The Honest Company
The Honest Company sells safe and trusted products that are simple
and efficient. It has donated over 20.6 million products through its
Honest to Goodness program since 2012. Click here for more info.

WHAT TO READ

The Age of Light – Whitney Scharer
This historical piece documents the life of a vogue model turned
photographer in the 1930s. Follow her story from a love affair with a
surrealist artist to becoming one of the first female war correspondents
in WWII.

The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
This novel follows identical twin girls growing up in a small Black
community. The book dives into both sisters’ pasts, and explores how
their decisions, desires and expectations influenced the way their
lives unfolded, as well as their children’s lives.

Purchase your books from women-owned online
bookstores here:

Antigone Books
Books Are Magic
The Second Shelf

WHAT TO WATCH

Wonder Woman
When a pilot crashes and shares news of a world at war, an Amazonian
warrior leaves home to fight, discovering her true destiny in the
process.

Wild
Wild follows a young woman as she sets out on a one-thousand mile
hike as a way to address past life traumas.

Non-Profit Spotlight: Camp Cedar Illinois, Inc.

Camp Cedar Illinois is a nonprofit organization founded to create a safe, fun, and empowering environment for child and teen survivors of sexual abuse. The camp provides a three-day weekend filled with crafts, kayaking, kite flying and other outdoor activities, while offering the support, education and resources to help survivors succeed and thrive.

Camp Cedar encourages the campers to see that they are strong, loved, have incredible worth and value, and that they can have a happy, healthy, and normal life.