2021 Women's History Month Celebration

Friends,

As the month of March begins, it is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to formally recognize Women's History Month. This annual recognition of women's history first began in 1980 as Women's History Week through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter. Since 1995, it has been recognized as a month-long celebration. Women's History Month is now an annual opportunity for all of us to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, "as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well."

Since many of the women's suffrage centennial celebrations originally scheduled for 2020 were curtailed, the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA) is extending the annual theme for 2021 to "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced." The NWHA explained this theme was first chosen last year in order to celebrate "the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others."

This theme also brings to mind the powerful Women's Suffrage Movement in the early 1900s, which ultimately led to the creation of the 19th Amendment securing women’s right to vote. More recently, this also brings to mind the many women who continued to fight in the 1960s for legislation such as the Voting Rights Act, which helped ensure that the voting rights of women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds were secured and protected.

This year, International Women's Day is on Monday, March 8. The theme is #ChooseToChallenge. The #ChooseToChallenge theme notes that "a challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions—all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge."

As we recognize the significant achievements of women throughout the world and history, this is a list of some of the Andrews University events available for you to participate in throughout this month:

March 5: Identity Vespers

• Proximity (PMC Chapel)
• 7:30 p.m.

March 9, 23, 30: Women's History Tuesday Choices

• Zoom Link TBA
• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Co-curricular credit available

March 13: WEAAU X BSCF Movie Night

• "Hidden Figures" Movie Screening
• Location TBA
• 7 p.m.

The Women's Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) will be announcing these and other events on Instagram throughout the month with more details. You can find their Instagram page @we.aau here.

New Life Fellowship will also be presenting a Women’s History Month Series titled "Insecure." This special series will take place during their Sabbath morning worship services throughout the month of March at 11:30 a.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. Speakers will include Chaplain Danielle Pilgrim, Gena Gordon and former University Chaplain June Price. These services will also stream live on New Life Fellowship's Facebook and YouTube pages. 

Social Sciences for Social Justice is also planning to host two panel discussions on women's history within the social sciences and why it matters. The panels will be offered on March 23 and 30, from 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., as part of the Tuesday Choices program. These panel discussions will feature one female faculty member from each of the following disciplines: anthropology, sociology, social work and psychology.

There are also some exciting programs happening in our surrounding communities during March. The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame will be hosting social justice activist Ai-jen Poo for Notre Dame’s first Asian American Distinguished Speakers Series in a livestream conversation on March 11 at 7 p.m. A former McArthur "Genius" fellow, Ai-jen Poo is a thought leader and activist for caregiving, domestic work and other social justice issues. You can find more information about this March 11 event here.

As I close this note, I would like to take an opportunity to specifically thank all of the wonderful women that make Andrews such a great place to work, learn, worship and commune. All of your contributions to our campus community have always been, and continue to be, so critical to our experiences and shared journeys here. It is my hope that this Women's History Month will be an opportunity to honor, celebrate and reaffirm how much we appreciate each and every one of you.

I look forward to this month's celebration and hope to see you at some of the events.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion