Women's History Month kicks off with summit for middle, high school students

Hundreds of middle and high school students celebrated Women's History Month by participating in the eighth annual Girls of Color Summit on March 6, hosted by the Center for Women and Gender Equity. 

Holly Jasinski, director of the Center for Women and Gender Equity, said the theme "Color Outside the Lines" promotes the center's mission of gender equity, intersectional understanding, empowerment and self-advocacy.

“The annual Girls of Color Summit reminds us that honoring women’s history means both reflecting on where we’ve been and investing in the brilliance and creativity of the young women who are our future leaders," Jasinski said.

The day was packed with educational and celebratory events, including classes, discussions and a presentation by keynote speaker Sharnell James.

James is a 2017 Grand Valley graduate, a school social worker and the founder of Dear Self Care. She shared a powerful message and challenged students to be "uniquely and unapologetically themselves."

“It's okay to be different, and it's okay to color outside those lines, because we need that," James said. “You do not need permission to be expressive, to be visible, to be imaginative, to be evolving, and finally, to be fully yourself,” James said.

Blessing Williams, an eighth grader at University Preparatory Academy, reflected on her first time at the summit and said, “It helped me grow, and it also helped me learn about myself.” 

Francisca Lucas Raymundo, a seventh grader at Gerald R Ford Academic Center, was a two-time summit participant. “It’s fun and it gives me confidence,” Francisca said.

Women's History Month Events

The Center for Women and Gender Equity will next host EqualiTEA on March 17 beginning at 11:30 a.m. RSVP here for that event. More campus events are listed below:

• March 17: Craftivism: Banner Making
• March 19: We Fem the Past to We Fem the Future 
• March 19: ElectHer- Women in Politics 
• March 19: Niara: Inspired-ish 
• March 19: See Jane Run: How Women Politicians Matter for Young People 
• March 30: She's Beautiful When She's Angry Film Screening 

— Cass Wainwright, a senior writing major, is a student writer for University Communications.