On March 25, Rio Salado College faculty members, staff, and students gathered online to celebrate Women’s History Month. Rio Salado’s DEIB team put together a wonderful public event called Empowering Voices: Celebrating Women Who Inspire You. Much like February’s Resilience & Brilliance panel that celebrated the accomplishments of Black Women in academia, this event was an opportunity for our community to come together and share their lived experiences.
In lieu of doing a moderated Q&A with guests, this virtual event was more of a freeform dialogue. Empowering Voices offered attendees an outlet to share their favorite stories, poems, songs, and inspiring art created by female artists & visionaries. That open-ended inspired a wide-reaching discussion where seminal figures as varied as astronauts, First Ladies, and painters were discussed alongside dolls and Reiki. While there’s no video of the event, we’ve put together a list of some of the topics discussed during the panel.
Women’s History Month may be over but that doesn’t mean you have to stop deepening your knowledge and appreciation of the cultural and historical contributions of women! Check out some of our Empowering Voices recommendations below:
- Barbie®: A Cultural Icon: An art exhibition on view at Phoenix Art Museum until July 7. This exhibition traces both the evolution of the doll and considers Barbie's impact on fashion & culture as a whole.
- Georgia O’Keeffe: The inspiring Modernist landscapes and floral paintings of O’Keeffe was a major touchstone for several attendees.
- My identity is a superpower -- not an obstacle: Speaking of Barbie, Academy Award nominee & Barbie co-star America Ferrera presented a moving TED talk on the importance of representation and cultural diversity.
- Krista Tippett: The creator & host of On Being, an acclaimed radio program that fosters conversations about spirituality, science, poetry, and social healing.
- Michelle Obama: The former First Lady’s latest book, The Light We Carry, and her influential role as a positive public role model was also discussed.
- Sally Ride: A true pioneer, Ride broke the NASA gender barrier in 1983, becoming the first American women to take flight into space.
- Chronic Wellness: Rio Salado’s Ally Snow teaches Reiki classes and facilitates group meditation circles, energy healing sessions, and teaches workshops on a variety of wellness topics.
Additional Resources
- Library Guide: Looking for more information on Women’s History Month? Check out the informative WHM guide our library staff put together!
- Women’s Association: Are you interested in mentorship? Applications for Arizona Women in Higher Education’s annual Mentorship Program are open until April 22. Get an opportunity to work with senior business leaders and other professionals who are eager to share their wisdom.
Article by Austin Brietta