Today
is International Women's Day. According to the UN, "It is a day when
women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions,
whether national,ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and
accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped
potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. (link)"We take a day to celebrate the amazing achievements of women, to look at how far we have come and yet, how far we still have to go. For us, this is a day to stand up for the accomplishments that have been made for women in the area of abuse - being able to call on the police for help, the laws that help prosecute those who abuse, the protections for women getting out of abusive situations, the attention and advancements that are being made for those being sold. We stand with communities who chose to not accept the abuse of girls and women and take a stand! We also cry out for our sisters around the world who suffer under the kind of discrimination and silence that we in the U.S. have fought so hard to eradicate. It is a day of celebration, but it is also a day to call attention to the fact our work is far from over.
In our community, we will be attending Local Women Making an International Impact, a program being sponsored, in part, by our dear friends at Zonta.
We want to acknowledge women who are making an impact.
- The mother working to provide the best life possible for her kids. Whether it is in or out of the home, we celebrate the woman who is giving her all to her kids, who laugh, cry, play and clean-up after the little ones who bring her so much joy.
- The mother whose children are out of the home, who is getting back into the workforce, trying to forge her own way and make a name for herself.
- The woman who continues to give through mentorship, volunteering, etc. helping to shape the lives of younger women.
- The female CEO, Executive, Board Member, etc. The process of women becoming equal in the workplace has been a struggle, and while still not finished, there is nothing women can't do! We have made it into executive offices, the military, Congress, and every realm in between.
- The military member serving her family, sacrificing time with them, putting herself in harm's way, defending our freedom and increasing the freedom of others. We also celebrate the moms who have to hold down a home while their spouse serves. Their sacrifice is no less demanding, and we celebrate the woman who keeps things going while their loved ones serve far away.
- The woman dreamers, givers, lovers and fighters. Women who give, dream, push and inspire us to keep going, keep giving, keep trying, keep loving. Without these women we would be lost, without them LTHF would just be a great idea but because of them we put it into action.
