Host of events planned at GVSU for Women's History Month

ALLENDALE, Mich. -- From a young women's leadership conference, to a talk about Michelle Obama and a discussion by the director of a documentary on Latina labor rights, many events are planned at Grand Valley State University to celebrate March as Women's History Month.

The events listed below are free and open to the public; most will be held on the Allendale Campus, one event is planned for Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids. For information about these events, call the GVSU Women’s Center at (616) 331-2748.

• March 20, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Young Women, Strong Leaders Conference, Kirkhof Center.
Women students from across the state will learn about leadership from women in many professional fields, including academics, politics and business. Leslie R. Wolfe, president of the Center for Women Policy Studies, will be the keynote speaker. The conference is sponsored by the Michigan Women’s Commission and Michigan ACE Network for Women.

• March 20, 6 p.m.: Lecture by Joy Castro, “Lopez from Stage to Screen: Disciplining the Borders of the Female Body,” Wealthy Street Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE.
Castro is the author of numerous books including “The Truth Book: A Memoir,” in which she details her account of running away at age 14 from her adopted family who were Jehovah’s Witnesses. Now on faculty at the University of Nebraska, she teaches in both the English and Ethnic Studies departments.

• March 23, 7 p.m.: Jessica Valenti presents “Why Feminism Still Matters,” Kirkhof Center, room 2204.
Valenti is an author and founder of the Web site, Feministing.com. An activist for women’s rights , she is well known for her ability to speak with younger audiences. She has authored “Full Frontal Feminism: A Young Woman’s Guide to Why Feminism Matters,” which focuses on the future of feminist thought and dispels myths and stereotypes associated with feminism.

• March 26, 11:30 a.m., “Made in LA,” screening and discussion with director, Kirkhof Center, room 2204.
Director Almudena Carracedo will screen the documentary, which follows a struggle for labor rights by Latina immigrants working in the Los Angeles garment industry.

• March 26, 4 p.m., “The Many Meanings of Michelle Obama,” Meijer Honors College, room 148.
Deidre Hill-Butler, assistant professor of sociology at Union College, will examine the ways First Lady Michelle Obama has been presented in public and private discourse. Hill-Butler has done extensive research on the role of African American women.

• March 31, 6 p.m., “34 Million Friends of Women of the World,” Kirkhof Center, room 2204.
Jane Roberts, co-founder of the group United Nations Population Fund, will describe new initiatives of the group that works to support family planning organizations.

Many campus departments and student groups are helping sponsor Women’s History Month events, including the Women’s Center, Women and Gender Studies, African and African American Studies, Classics, College of Interdisciplinary Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Division of Inclusion and Equity, Face AIDS, Office of Multicultural Affairs, Latin American Studies, Theatre, University Bookstore, Voices for Healthy Choices, and the American Association of University Women-Grand Rapids Chapter.