Gretchen Whitmer, the Governor of Michigan, has made strides for American women in politics. Born and raised in Michigan, she has had a long love of politics and public service. She was born to two lawyers and grew up surrounded by the importance of law and public service. Whitmer attended both undergrad and law school in Michigan at Michigan State and the Detroit College of Law, respectively.
Nsé Ufot, the CEO of the New Georgia Project, has been working hard her whole career to ensure voter protection and promote civic engagement. Born in Nigeria and raised in Atlanta, her ties to Georgia run deep. Ufot received her Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia Institute of Technology before pursuing her law degree from the University of Dayton.
At just twenty-three years old, Nadya Okamoto has already made waves in combating the stigma of periods for fellow menstruators. The former IGNITE Boston Fellow fought against the Tampon Tax, which taxes these items as luxury goods, and has used her position to lift stereotypes against people with periods.
This Women’s History Month at IGNITE, we’ll be spotlighting several powerful women in our community. Kicking us off is Cecilia Silva, a passionate and seasoned IGNITE alum who currently works for ReflectUS to increase representation in politics.
March 1, 2021, marks the 35th Women’s History Month. This annual month-long commemoration of honoring the profound contributions of women dates back to 1987. While Women’s History Month is centered on paying tribute to our extraordinary foremothers who fought for our right to vote, it tends to overlook the herstory makers of today. This year, IGNITE will be featuring several ambitious, strong, and inspiring women who are currently writing herstory with their work.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, an Olympic medalist in fencing, made history in 2016 as the first American to wear a hijab while competing. This fencer and activist has been breaking barriers and advancing the profile of all Muslim-American athletes for years.
When reflecting on our foremothers in civil rights, we tend to hone in on Rosa Parks and the stance she made. While Parks was definitely influential in the Montgomery, Alabama Bus Boycotts, Claudette Colvin preceded her in refusing to give up her seat on a bus.
Known for her authorship and advances in Black feminism, Anna Julia Cooper née Anna Julia Haywood is one of the many Black women to know, love, and celebrate this month and every month. Keep reading to learn more about Anna Julia Cooper.