Kalamazoo Valley Community College Celebrates Women's History Month

KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Media Contact

Linda Depta, Executive Director

KVCC Foundation and Director of Fund Development

269.488.4821 or ldepta@kvcc.edu

Kalamazoo Valley Community College Celebrates Women's History Month

Join Kalamazoo Valley Community College for a month-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Free events are scheduled across the college community and are open to students, faculty, staff and the public. In an effort to continue to be good stewards of resources, advanced registration is required for many of the events. KALSEE Credit Union is a presenting sponsor.

"The Right Stuff at the Wrong Time: First Lady Astronaut Trainees"

Sunday, March 8, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

At the start of the Space Age, 13 female pilots were tested by NASA doctor William Lovelace to see if they had the "right stuff" for space travel. Dr. Nicolle Zellner, professor of physics at Albion College, shares the story of these women, including two from Michigan, who passed (or excelled in) the same tests undertaken by the famous "Mercury 7" astronauts but were denied the opportunity to fly in space. Seating is limited; reserve a seat by visiting http://www.kalamazoomuseum.org.

Merze Tate Explorers Presentation

Saturday, March 14, 1-3 p.m.

Anna Whitten Hall

Arcadia Commons Campus

The Merze Tate Explorers will celebrate the success of their first college course while also recognizing African American Women Firsts in Kalamazoo. Women such as Juanita Goodwin, the first African American principal of KPS, Stacey Randolph, the first African American woman supervisor for Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and many others in local government, medicine, and entertainment will be recognized with a special tribute, "I am a Promise." In addition, a coloring book to recognize these women also will be unveiled with proceeds going toward the Merze Tate Explorers' Scholarship Fund. For more information, email contact@merzetate.com.

Fighting for the Vote: Women's Suffrage in America

Saturday, March 14 and Saturday, March 28, 1 p.m.

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

This 31-minute film covers the history of the struggle for women's suffrage in the United States beginning with the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. It provides a rare look into the relationship between the women's suffrage movement and the anti-slavery movement, as well as the leadership of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. The presentation includes archival film footage and commentary by authors, historians and academics. The film is produced and written by Lisa Clark and Adam Sternberg. Seating is limited; please reserve a seat by visiting http://www.kalamazoomuseum.org.

"Are We There Yet? - 100 Years of Imperfect Progress"

Wednesday, March 18, 2-4 p.m.

Texas Township Campus, Room 4240

Since gaining the right to vote, women have made remarkable progress in the workplace, in higher education and in politics. However, progress has been uneven and barriers still exist as women attempt to gain equal footing in America. Join us for this inspiring presentation and panel discussion led by Rebecca Durkee, instructor of gender and women's studies (GWS) and sociology at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She leads the GWS concentration and teaches several classes on gender, including Introduction to Gender and Women's Studies as well as Media and the Sexes. Her research has included gender disparities in higher education and LGBTQ issues. The panel discussion participants will include local leaders Dr. Grace Lubwama, executive director of the YWCA of Kalamazoo and Dr. Julie Stotz-Ghosh and Skylar Bre'z, faculty members at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.

Reserve your seat by March 11 at http://www.kvcc.edu/womenscelebration

Kalamazoo Valley Community College: Celebrating Women Leaders

Tuesday, March 24, 11:30 a.m.- 1:15 p.m.

Texas Township Campus, Room 4240

Michigan Women Forward (MWF) has a vision where women and girls are empowered to be leaders, inventors, dreamers and doers. Kalamazoo Valley has partnered with MWF to present inspiring messages from Hon. Judge Carolyn H. Williams and Lynn Chen-Zhang, two groundbreaking local women. Both were MWF 2019 Women of Achievement and Courage Award Recipients. Join us for lunch, presentations and a panel discussion. Reserve your seat by March 17 at http://www.kvcc.edu/womenscelebration.

League of Women Voters: "The First 100 Years"

Exhibit through March 31

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

The Kalamazoo Area League of Women Voters has partnered with the Kalamazoo Valley Museum to celebrate its 100th anniversary through the installation of a special display on the second floor. A timeline traces the history of the suffragist movement and the milestones of the League from 1920 to 2020. This exhibit describes Kalamazoo's local efforts to empower voters and defend democracy where every person has the desire, right, knowledge and confidence to participate. Kalamazoo native Dr. Caroline Bartlett Crane features prominently in the exhibit, which includes a model of her 1924 "Everyman's House." A vintage dress dating from 1915 also makes its debut and is part of the Museum's historical collection.

SOURCE Kalamazoo Valley Community College