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.
The celebration began at a local school district in California in 1978 where the teachers, full of passion for our foremothers, had a week full of presentations and research projects on influential women. After the wave of celebration spread to other schools around the country, President Carter deemed the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week in 1980 through a proclamation. This was solidified in the legislature the following year with a resolution to formally honor women’s achievements during the week. Several years later, in 1987, the National Women’s History Project advocated for the celebration of women’s achievements to extend the full month of March, which the legislature agreed to.
This month at IGNITE, several powerful women will be taking the spotlight. Kicking us off is Cecilia Silva, a passionate and seasoned IGNITE alum who currently works for ReflectUS to increase representation in politics across gender and identity. We will also share the stories of legislators at the state and national levels like Christina Haswood and Mazie Hirono, activists like Nadya Okamoto, and advocates for voter protection and social justice like Nse Ufot. Be sure to follow along on our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as we celebrate famous days in history, birthdays of inspiring women, and stories of women currently making an impact.
To cap off the month and turn the enthusiasm into tangible action, be sure to sign up for our Young Women Run conference. This three-day virtual event will help you navigate how you can serve in different positions and make a difference, such as the candidate, the commissioner, the campaign operative, the policy maker, and the political activist. It’s free for high school students and college women, so make sure to register today and take the next step in your political journey!