Montgomery County is celebrating Women’s Equality Day virtually with events and discussions planned the week leading up to August 26, 2020.
Students from Montgomery County Public Schools across the county participated in this historic commemoration by sharing what qualities they believe women bring to leadership positions and how society can ensure more women in leadership roles in the near future.
The Montgomery County Commission for Women (CFW) will virtually commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. In collaboration with many community partners and sponsors, the virtual event will feature special guest Robyn Muncy, Ph.D., author, guest curator of the National Archives exhibit, “Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote” and Professor of History at the University of Maryland. Dr. Muncy will be joined by Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president of Montgomery College.
This virtual event is targeted to all ages. All members of the public are invited to tune in on August 19, at 7:00 p.m. to learn more about previous suffrage efforts, and the role of civic activists in enlisting women’s participation in voting. Youth are highly encouraged to join and participate in this educational event.
LEARN about the suffragists and the suffrage movement on the Women’s Equality Day Across Maryland Facebook page here. The NOTES tab has several resources including tons of links, materials, lists of resources, and more.
Link to Montgomery County Commission for Women’s Virtual Commemoration page: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/cfw/suffrage/index.html
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the way that everyone is commemorating the 2020 Centennial this year including the Women’s Vote Centennial Initiative, but they, like here in Montgomery County, are finding unique and creative ways to celebrate in these unprecedented circumstances. See the list of virtual events and learn more about how you can still participate in Women’s Equality Day celebrations on August 26, 2020 here.
Did you know that women in Sandy Spring played an active role in winning the right for women to vote? Sandy Spring Museum will be installing a marker commemorating local suffragists Caroline Hallowell Miller and Mary Bentley Thomas. Both were active in the local, state, and national movements in the fight for women’s suffrage.