March 2025
Women make history every day. But it wasn’t until 1978 that the first official commemoration of women in American history took place. That’s when the Education Task Force of Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women started a local Women’s History Week celebration that coincided with International Women’s Day on March 8 that year. Following President Jimmy Carter’s formal declaration of a Women’s History Week in 1980, Congress enacted a resolution in 1987, officially declaring March 1987 as the inaugural Women’s History Month.
First 5 LA is proud to join the community in observing National Women’s History Month. This is a time when we not only celebrate the contributions women have made to history but also highlight the challenges of gender bias while promoting solutions toward greater gender equality. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the United Nations’ International Women’s Year, when the first international conference on women was held in Mexico in 1975.
As established by the National Women’s History Alliance, this year’s theme focuses on “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” Passing along knowledge, culture, language, history, equality, equity, lessons learned and change are all crucial to building a better world for our youngest children and their families. From providers, child care professionals, educators, doulas, women leaders and decision-makers to community organizers and promotoras, women play a pivotal role in educating, connecting and inspiring others to envision and achieve better futures.
Their work is critical, now more than ever. At a time when misinformation and disinformation are commonplace, we need more educators, mentors and leaders who speak with authenticity and truth. Advocates who uphold the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion have been increasingly challenged.
“To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can learn,” wrote educator and feminist bell hooks. “That learning process comes easiest to those of us who teach who also believe that there is an aspect of our vocation that is sacred; who believe that our work is not merely to share information but to share in the intellectual and spiritual growth of our students.”
First 5 LA is honored to join the community this month in celebrating the enduring power of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship and leadership. For more information on Women’s History Month resources and events near you, check out our resource library below.
- Women’s History Museum: Brave Girls Virtual Storytime: Standing On Her Shoulders: A Celebration of Women – March 6, 12pm – 12:45pm (Virtual)
- USC: 2025 Women’s Conference – March 07, 8:30am – 5:00pm
- WeWill Collaborative: International Women’s Day: Accelerate Action – March 8, 5:00pm – 9:00pm
- Corita Art Center: Re-opening – March 8
- LA County Library: Writing Workshop: Developing Strong Women Characters – March 8, 10:30am – 12:30pm
- LA County Library: International Women’s Day: Yayoi Kusama-Inspired Art – March 8, 11am – 12pm
- LA County Library: Women’s History Month: Planting a Historical Seed – March 8, 2pm – 3pm
- LA Public Library: March Storytime (Women’s History Month) – March 8, 3.30pm
- City of WeHo: Women and Books Club – March 9, 12pm – 3pm
- LA Public Library: Dinosaur Storytime & Face Painting – March 11, 4:30pm
- City of WeHo: Hollywood NOW Annual Herstory Awards – March 14, 6:30pm – 9:30pm
- Women’s History Month Group Hike: Celebrating Strong Women on the Trail – March 15, 9am – 12pm
- LA County Library: Book Party: Mae Among The Stars – March 15, 1pm – 2pm
- California African American Museum: Zine Workshop, Women’s History Month – March 22, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
- LA Public Library: Pioneering Women of Early Hollywood – March 26, 12:15pm
- LA County Library: Tales of Women: Witty and Wise – March 28, 4:00pm – 4:45pm
