March is Women’s History Month. The National Women’s History Alliance has announced the women’s history theme for 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion,” which encourages diversity in the fight for gender equality.
On March 8, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark, though the holiday was not widely celebrated in the United States until the United Nations began sponsoring it in 1975.
In 1977, to persuade school principals to comply with the recently passed Title IX, a task force in California created Women’s History Week to celebrate the accomplishments of women.
In March 1980, after celebrations had spread across the country, President Jimmy Carter declared that March 8 was officially the start of National Women’s History Week. That same year, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Maryland Representative Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution declaring the week of March 8, 1981, as National Women’s History Week.
By 1987, Congress declared the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Since then, every President has declared the month of March as Women’s History Month. In 2021, President Biden called upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
He also invited all Americans to visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contribution of women in our nation’s history.
Women served our nation during World War II, led organizing and litigation efforts during the Civil Rights movement and represented the United States on the global stage in the fight for human rights, peace, and security.
Far too often, their heroic efforts and stories have gone untold — especially the millions of black women, immigrant women, and others from diverse communities who have strengthened America across every generation.
During the global pandemic, women continued to lead. From vaccine researchers to public health officials to the countless heroines on the frontlines, women have been working tirelessly to defeat COVID-19.
2021 also marked a historic milestone of women’s leadership with the inauguration of America’s first woman Vice President, Kamala Harris. In our community, I am proud to serve on the Voorhees
Township Committee with two women who are role models, Deputy Mayor Michelle Nocito and Committeeperson Jacklyn Kassab Fetbroyt. They will be sharing their thoughts in this column over the next two weeks.
** The Animal Welfare Association is now offering day camps from 9am-3pm on holidays and school breaks for children ages 7-14. The dates are March 29, April 1, 2, 3. They will play educational games, make animal-related crafts, hear from special guests, peek behind the scenes of AWA and hang out with animals. Register: https://give.awanj.org/kidsdayoffcamp2024
For more information, contact education@awanj.com or call 856-424-2288 x219
** The Animal Welfare Association is also offering Wags & Wiggles grown-up-and-me style classes for children ages 2-4 on March 26. This program will teach all little animal lovers about animal safety, kindness, and compassion. Each class will last 45 minutes and includes instructor-led story time, craft and developmentally age-appropriate activities focused around animals.
Register:https://give.awanj./wagswiggles2024
For more information, contact education@awanj.com or call 856-424-2288 x219
** The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club, in conjunction with Voorhees Township School District,
presents artwork by students with autism on April 20 from 10am-4pm in the Town Center inside the mall.
Enjoy art displays, a live piano performance and food. For more information, call Alan Stein at 609-320-7876 or email alanfsrotary@gmail.com
** The Camden County Board of Elections needs poll workers for the upcoming elections. This year the Board of Elections is hiring employees 16 and over.
$300 for the day from 5am – 9pm
Tuesday, June 4 (Primary Election)
Tuesday, Nov. 5 (General Election)
For more information, call (856) 401-8683
