Katie Crooks, Director of Museum and Visitor Experience, reads a portion of President Biden’s proclamation honoring Women’s Equality Day
Photo by Susan Laume/The Connection
Eleanor Gomolinski-Allu, formerly a long-time docent at the Lucy Burns Museum, with her friends Patty Marceron, Peggy Woods, and Cynthia Cope.
Women’s Equality Day, celebrated every year, officially on Aug. 26, marks the granting of women’s right to vote, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution by the 19th Amendment in 1920. The Amendment prohibits states from depriving citizens of the United States of the right to vote based on gender. The 2024 theme for the Day, “Equality Starts with Empowered Women,” highlights the importance of fostering wellbeing and resilience of women in the workplace and society.
The importance of women’s equality in the vote and politics is particularly poignant this year as the first Black and Asian American female, Kamala Harris, is the Democratic nominee for United States President. Her nomination came just days before the historic 19th Amendment commemoration day.
The Workhouse played a significant role in the women’s suffrage story, where over 70 of the suffragists who picketed the White House were incarcerated. The Workhouse Arts Center marked the 1920 date in history, when most women won the vote, with two related events: a Learning at Lunch lecture, titled Suffragists UNcarcerated; and a Women’s Equality Day Celebration on the Center’s tented quad, Rizer Pavilion.
While several suffragists famously were jailed for picketing in front of the White House, many other high profile socialite suffragists escaped incarceration. Author and lecturer Kenena Spalding, shared historic photos and stories of principal women in the suffrage movement, in the first in a series of new lunchtime lectures hosted by the Workhouse. For upcoming events, see https://www.workhousearts.org/calendar.
The Women’s Equality Day festival held on Aug. 24, featured performances, readings, information tables and crafts. Capital Harmonia, a women’s singing group formed in 2013, performs in support of women’s causes. The group sang selections by female composers with themes of sisterhood.
Sonia Monson’s belly dance group performed several styles of belly dance. The dance study seeks to help women find mental and physical health through movement, part of the physical exercise class offerings at the Art of Movement at the Workhouse. (https://www.workhousearts.org/art-of-movement)
Sherri Waas Shunfenthal, a poet, read her poetry and shared stories of inspirational women of her acquaintance. Volunteers led rose construction and suffrage tattoo crafts. Nancy Rodreiguez, of Cup & Crown (https://www.cupandcrown.com) offered an opportunity to create a custom tea mix, a nod to the part afternoon teas played in the suffrage movement.
Eleanor Gomolinski-Allu, formerly a long-time docent at the Lucy Burns Museum, with friends Patty Marceron, Peggy Woods and Cynthia Cope agreed they came in recognition of the ‘fellowship of women’ and are eager to exercise their right to vote this year, “for the right person, who happens to be female.”