A rich lineup of performances, author events and community events will honor Women's History Month across Northwest Philadelphia in March, offering residents multiple opportunities to celebrate women's contributions to history, culture, and society.
In Philadelphia, the celebration of women's history holds special significance. The city was home to many pioneering women's rights advocates, including Lucretia Mott, who organized the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention—the first women's rights convention in America.
The local observances are part of the national Women's History Month tradition that began in 1980, when the National Women's History Project (now the National Women's History Alliance) successfully advocated for Women's History Week. In 1981, Congress passed a resolution officially establishing the week, with President Jimmy Carter issuing a proclamation. By 1987, continued advocacy led Congress to expand the recognition to the entire month of March, creating the National Women's History Month observed nationwide today.
Literature enthusiasts can attend two notable author events this month. On March 11 at 7 p.m., bestselling romance novelist Lucy Score will appear at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside for "Story of My Life," an evening of conversation with Rick Lankford, district manager for Books-A-Million. Each ticket includes a pre-signed deluxe copy of Score's latest book. Later in the month, the Chestnut Hill Library will host author Karen Bojar on March 28 at 5 p.m. for a Q&A and book signing of "The Evolution of Socialist Feminism from Eleanor Marx to AOC," which traces the history of socialist feminism through the contributions of twelve activists.
Rounding out the month's celebrations, Valray Productions and Burrell Soul Food will present a Women's History Month dinner dance and show on March 28 from 7 to 11:30 p.m. at Treasures, located at 5549 Germantown Avenue. The evening promises jazz, R&B, blues, and poetry for attendees.
