Celebrate Women’s History Month
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
North Tonawanda City Hall – Council Chambers
216 Payne Avenue

Women’s History was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum through the 1970s. An initial effort to bring awareness to the contributions of women was begun by the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women. Essay and poster contests were held in the schools and from there interest spread rapidly to other states and countries.

First steps to establish a Week of National Women’s History started under President Carter with an aim to achieve equity goals within the classroom. By 1986, 14 states had declared March as National Women’s History Month.

A special Presidential Proclamation has been issued every year since 1987, which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women and events recognizing women are now regularly held throughout the month of March.

The society’s March program featured Karen King, PhD., Executive Director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women. Dr. King has served as an adjunct graduate faculty member in the Higher Education Student Affairs Administration Program at Buffalo State College and in the Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo. She presented two new initiatives of the Commission: “The Trailblazing Women of WNY Monument Project” honoring local pioneering women and “First Amendment, First Vote” engaging young women in 9-12 grades to educate them on the electoral and legislative processes.