Photos courtesy of Tia Gemmell, Riverview Media Photography |
Gloria Steinem, one of the founders of NWPC, said that “when unique voices are united in a common cause, they make history.”
What better time to reflect on those words than now, during Women’s History Month?
This is a time set aside to celebrate our successes, to honor those women on whose shoulders we stand. But this is also a time to recognize how far we still have to go.
Let’s start with our most recent victories. The California State Legislature now has the greatest number of women serving ever. The voters in the City of West Sacramento have elected an all-female Council. And the majority of Sacramento City Councilmembers are women.
No doubt this influx of women’s voices will shift the conversation, leading to policies that will better reflect the needs of all people. Yet we must stay ever vigilant.
Long-time civil rights activist Dolores Huerta advises us that “every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world."
We must heed her words because, despite our many triumphs, our battles are far from over. The fight to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment continues in Congress. And our right to choose what we do with our bodies is under constant attack.
So what better time than during Women’s History Month to renew our commitments to parity? And what better way to begin than to join NWPC in our efforts to recruit, train, and elect women at every level of government?
I close with these inspiring words. “Don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own." ~ Michelle Obama