International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
A local celebration will be held on Thursday, March 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall. There will be music, food and plenty of information about projects women are creating and championing throughout our community. This is a community event and is open to everyone.
The growing international women’s movement, which has been strengthened by four global United Nations women’s conferences, has helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women’s rights and participation in the political and economic arenas. The 2018 theme chosen by the UN is “The Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives.”
At 4:30 p.m., keynote speaker Georgette Wong will give a 30-minute presentation on using impact investment strategy to equitably and sustainably empower communities in our islands and around the world.
Wong is CEO of Correlation Consulting and a recognized trailblazer in impact investing. From 2007 to 2012 she convened and curated the Take Action! Impact Investing Summit, which, in its last year, brought together 125 pioneering asset owners and investors representing more than $4.5 trillion in assets. Wong has presented on impact investing before the U.S. Senate, the U.S. State Department, the United Nations-backed principles for responsible investment, exponent philanthropy and others. Wong earned her MBA at UCLA Anderson and B.A. magna cum laude at Amherst College. She lives on Orcas Island with her husband and two young children.
Participating organizations are Island Reproductive Health, Affordable Housing Campaign, Darvill’s, Coalition for Orcas Healthcare, SAFE San Juans and Orcas Women in Business as well as representatives from The OWC Environmental Action Team and Immigrant Rights Group.
Join the Orcas Women’s Coalition at the Parish Hall for what promises to be an inspiring event, open to everyone, with free childcare provided.
Agenda:
• 3 p.m. – Event set up begins**
• 3:30 p.m. – Tabling Organizations set up
• 4 p.m. – Event Starts
• 4:15 p.m. – Opening, Land Acknowledgment
• 4:30 p.m. – Keynote: Georgette Wong
• 4:45 p.m. – Q+A with Georgette
• 5 p.m. – Open mic, mingle, explore, celebrate!
• 7 p.m. – Event Ends, Clean up**
• 8 p.m. – Close up the Parish Hall
**Volunteer opportunities are as follows:
• Bring food
• Bring art, songs and poems
• Set up (between 3–4 p.m.)
• Clean up (between 7–8 p.m.)
If you can pitch in just 15 minutes, or one bag of tortilla chips, every bit will help make this blossoming tradition a raucous success.
Email artofnourishment@gmail.com to sign up for volunteer opportunities.
