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Community members from across Lancaster County are invited to join Millersville University’s celebration of Women’s History Month.
The President’s Commission on the Status of Women at Millersville put together this year’s International Women’s Day activities taking place on campus in the Student Memorial Center’s multiple purpose room on March 5. Free childcare will be available for attendees, provided by the University’s Early Childhood Organization.
The day will feature tabling displays of women-owned businesses, community resources and food trucks from 1 and 3 p.m. and Theodora Talks (a play on TED Talks) and performances from 3 to 4:40 p.m. This year’s Theodora Talk speakers are Kate Zimmerman, the President and CEO of University Way of Lancaster County; Dr. Damaris Rau, the former superintendent for the School District of Lancaster; and Joanne Carroll, the executive director of Trans Advocacy Pennsylvania. Millersville University’s Ville Harmonics and Mambojaz Dance Company will perform for attendees.
“We celebrate International Womxn’s Day to recognize the achievements of women across social, economic and cultural backgrounds and celebrate the diversity of our community. It serves as a reminder for the progress made in women’s rights and encourages us to “Accelerate Action” toward a more inclusive and equitable world,” said Dr. Melissa Mullen Davis, associate professor of biochemistry and chair of the women’s commission at Millersville University.
The Ware Center in downtown Lancaster is also taking part in the festivities with the We the People First Friday, a free and open to the public event on March 7. It will feature Ubuntu African storytelling from African narratives and drum beats by Rev. Dr. Chynaah Maryoung-Cooke at 6:30 p.m. in Steinman Hall. In addition to this, there will be a collaborative exhibit by Wanawake, a collective of female artists, as a tribute to the resilience, strength and creativity of women in the Regitz Gallery. This exhibit will be on display until March 28.
Women’s History Month first originated as Women’s History Week in 1978 through a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California according to the National Women’s History Museum, . International Women’s Day came into prominence the following year expanding past the community of Santa Rosa, California to across the country. Since 1987, the United States has continually recognized Women’s History Month as a recognized presidential proclamation.
The President’s Commission on the Status of Women at Millersville’s mission is to “foster a university climate that promotes full and equal opportunity for women to study, work, and live in an environment free of discrimination and harassment.”
