Celebrating International Women's Month
- FYI Administrator
- Mar 16
- 2 min read
March is Women’s History Month, and it is so much more than just another calendar observance. The story of how March came to represent the rights, freedoms, and courage of women is a personal and powerful one.
With humble beginnings in Santa Rosa, the state of California decided that women’s contributions to history deserved to be recognized, and in 1978 they started what would soon inspire a movement. What began as a single week of local celebration evolved into something greater, and by 1980, President Carter had issued the first official proclamation for National Women’s History Week. By 1987, Congress pushed this further by designating the month of March to represent the inspiring cultural shift. Though, this change didn’t happen swiftly, as it took years of organizing, lobbying, and refusing to be overlooked.
The same is true for International Women’s Day, celebrated every March 8th. A day born out of early 20th century labor movements and women’s rights activism, that has grown into a global call to action observed in more than 20 countries. In 2026 alone, tens of thousands took to the streets across multiple continents to raise their voices against gender-based violence, fight for fundamental rights, and call for the end of discrimination.
It’s all a reminder that history isn’t just something to read about, it’s acknowledging that the women who came before us fought hard for the progress we benefit from today. From workplace rights to healthcare accessibility to simply having a say in their own best interests, modern women are still building on a foundation that took generations to lay.
What does this have to do with FYI?
Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and the young women our programs see everyday all have the potential to lay the foundation for a future focused on equality. What started as a commitment to supporting women and families in our community has grown into something so much bigger, and we need your help to keep it going. Whether you volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word of our mission, you have the power to be a part of this story.
