March 1, 2021
Dear Campus Community:
We celebrate Women’s History Month, every year in March. At Gallaudet, our celebrations of women’s history, struggles and achievements during this period is uniquely enhanced by the infusion of Deafcentric perspectives, on a global scale.
Women’s History Month began in 1981 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, each president has issued annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.”
President Reagan issued Presidential Proclamation 4903 proclaiming the week beginning on March 7, 1982 as the first "Women’s History Week" and recognizing the vital role of women in American history:
American women of every race, creed and ethnic background helped found and build our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways ... As leaders in public affairs, American women not only worked to secure their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity but also were principal advocates in the abolitionist, temperance, mental health reform, industrial labor and social reform movements, as well as the modern civil rights movement.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, Gallaudet has planned several activities and events. I strongly encourage members of our community to attend these events. A few highlights:
Turn-a-Page-Together (TAPT): This is a cornerstone program of Intercultural Competency and Community Belonging. TAPT will be held on Monday, February 15 to April 19, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. (EST) via Zoom.
The TAPT program is a multicultural book club offered each semester, and it is open to students, faculty, and staff. It is also an opportunity for participants to share their diverse views and to experience thought-provoking discussions. This program provides three different books on diversity; the book relevant to Women History Month is Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments: Intimate Histories of Riotous Black Girls, Troublesome Women, and Queer Radicals by Saidiya Hartman.
The Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) is collaborating with Campus Activities to host a student panel discussion, “Discover Your Inner Shero” on Friday, March 12, from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. via Zoom. Panelists Delresea Mornes, Emily Johnson, Judy Yang, Mariana Arroyo Chavez, and Sharon Castillo will share their experiences and perspectives about discovering their inner shero. The zoom meeting link is: https://gallaudet.zoom.us/j/85294059747
The Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (DEDI) is collaborating with Campus Activities to host a tea party, with a presentation by Faculty Dr. Shilpa Hanumantha on Friday, March 26 from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. via a Zoom meeting. The topic of the presentation is forthcoming. We will have an opportunity to discuss in breakout rooms after the presentation. Click this zoom meeting: https://gallaudet.zoom.us/j/81182673318
The Center for Black Deaf Studies is also planning some events during the month, so keep an eye out for their promotions. We encourage you to experience as many of these programs as you can to increase your knowledge and enrich your worldview. Please join me in extending warmest wishes to the community for a successful celebration of Women’s History Month.
Sincerely,
Dr. Elizabeth A. Moore
Interim Chief Diversity Officer
