The Women's Celebration You Won't Miss
It’s finally here! The celebration we as women look forward to every year has finally arrived. National Women’s History Month is celebrated in March, where we dedicate the month to not only celebrate, but appreciate and uplift women throughout history, as well as everywhere. This time of year, women everywhere whether it be women who own businesses, run offices, save people every day, or women that are just starting to find themselves, come together to help each other out and offer the admiration and empowerment that we all deserve. Women Speak Up is especially fond of Women’s History Month, as we not only look into the women who fought for where we are today, but also recognize the women who are paving the way for us today, and for the future.
Women’s History Month started as a week-long celebration in 1981, when Congress passed a resolution to honor women's achievements. Then in 1987, March was established as the National Month for Women. While we will always honor the women who have paved the way for us, whether it be those that obtained the right to vote, the right to work, the right to equal pay, we also need to honor women who are changing the game right now. Women everywhere are currently opening businesses, shops, becoming doctors and engineers, things that years ago, no one ever thought was possible.
Many women-owned businesses are taking advantage of this month to raise money for better causes. One small hair salon in Queens, New York was charging 5 dollars for a haircut in order to raise proceeds that goes to women’s breast cancer research. Other larger companies will also be donating proceeds to women’s reproductive research or organizations that advocate for equal pay, such as Saks Off Fifth, Dolce Vita, Zaldig and Voltaire, Ugg; the list goes on. Larger companies like DSW are also bringing influential women to talk about their experiences such as Jamie Chung, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, Loni Love and Katie Sturino. Even Vital-Proteins is giving their employees a day off on International Women’s Day (March 7th), while also donating their time in March and throughout the remainder of the year toward education programs, wellness and more to empower their community. While women already have a lot of support from each other, companies honoring women give praise to issues that women have been going through for decades, and represent the change that women want and need to see every day.
Stay tuned for us, as Women Speak Up will be celebrating women that have joined us for our annual events, as well as local women in New Jersey that have made an impact in their community and continue to pave the way for women everywhere, right from their homes. Other nonprofits just like us are also participating this year. One example is She Is The Music, a nonprofit that empower women everywhere to pursue their careers the music industry where women are the minority. Already, they have curated an Instagram Live interview with actress Sofia Carson to give insight on what it's like to be a woman in the industry and how to succeed. Girls Make Beats, a nonprofit that encourages girls to go into the music production industry, has also released a song in honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day.
Overall, we can't wait for the rest of the month to see what other companies and nonprofits have in store. But most of all, we can't wait for all of you to see all we've done for women, and we hope that you continue to be a part of our journey! So, on a last hurrah, Happy National Women's History Month!
Want to learn more about how we help women globally with our programs, events, and resources? Learn more about us at Women Speak Up (womenspeakupus.org)
Written by Erika Kontente
Approved by Yanel Rivera
