President’s Message

Dear Friends of Worcester Women’s History Project (WWHPers),

Spring is nearly upon us. I think it’s great timing that the first day of spring falls in the middle of women’s history month – it’s a time for renewed energy and growth, taking a fresh look at your surroundings, emerging from your winter shell. We’ve got plenty going on to tap into that positive energy and help you flourish as a woman making history here in Worcester. I’m honored to be taking the reins as president this year, and pleased to be able to share with you here a bit of the excitement being generated by the marvelous women on our steering committee and working groups. Will this be the spring you get more involved?

This year the theme for Women’s History Month is “Women’s Education – Women’s Empowerment.” This theme resonates strongly with the vision of WWHP “to celebrate and document women’s contributions to the history, social fabric, and culture of Worcester and beyond.”

Through programs and initiatives, we work to shine a light on the amazing stories of local women’s involvement in work, education, health and political/community engagement — looking at women of the past like Abby Kelley Foster, but also women of the present, as highlighted in the terrific new compilation of excerpts from some of the 200+ oral histories we’ve collected through the Worcester Women’s Oral History Project (WWOHP) initiative. We’re so grateful to and proud of the WWOHP co-chairs, Charlene Martin and Maureen Ryan Doyle, for the success of their book in bringing attention to these powerful stories. Be sure to read the article in this newsletter describing the book launch event at the Library last December. The WWOHP group are also planning a public workshop for May 9 – see details on page 4.

We kick off Women’s History Month with the 9th annual WOMEN IN PRINT event on March 7. This event is featured on page 7 with the design by new Steering Committee member Hayley Gleason. Come early if you want a seat, as we’ve been known to pack the place!

March is also MEMBERSHIP MONTH, so it’s time to renew your own membership and think about getting one for a friend. Membership in WWHP is a terrific choice for thoughtful women on your gift lists – whether to celebrate a birthday, Mother’s Day, Administrative Professionals Day, Easter, or Equinox – especially when presented in combination with the Voices of Worcester Women book. (See form on back page.)

There’s plenty more on tap this spring. We’ve been invited to join Abby Kelley Foster at Liberty Farm on Sat., May 19 to celebrate her daughter Alla’s birthday. Watch the website for details. Abby’s been trailblazing on the national level this year, so you’ll want to see her while she’s here and catch up on the news of her travels far and near, including a performance in the Connecticut church where the real Abby was driven out by angry crowds in 1840.

You’ll find us out in the community at stART on the Street June 3 on Green Street, quilling with the kids while we’re spreading the word about Abby, the first national woman’s rights convention and our current initiatives. And planning is well underway for the annual women’s history field trip, June 9, this year to the Quincy home of Abigail Adams, a brilliant Massachusetts woman who shaped history with her ideas and writings much like Abby Kelley Foster and also to the JFK Presidential Library and Museum for the exhibit on Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1964 oral history.

Now is the time to waken from your winter slumber. Attend an event, join a working group, get more involved. Hope to see you out there —