March is National Women’s History Month.  The theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) in 2025 is “Accelerate Action.” The theme for National Women’s History Month in 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” 

On March 8, 1911, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark, though the holiday was not widely celebrated in the United States until the United Nations began sponsoring it in 1975.

In 1977, to persuade school principals to comply with the recently passed Title IX, a task force in California created Women’s History Week to celebrate the accomplishments of women.

In March 1980, after celebrations had spread across the country, President Jimmy Carter declared that March 8 was officially the start of National Women’s History Week. That same year, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and Maryland Representative Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution declaring the week of March 8, 1981 as National Women’s History Week.

By 1987, Congress declared the entire month of March asWomen’s History Month. Since then, every President has declared the month of March as Women’s History Month. In 2021, President Biden called upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021, with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.  He also invited all Americans to visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contribution of women in our nation’s history.

Women served our nation during World War II, led organizing and litigation efforts during the Civil Rights movement and represented the United States on the global stage in the fight for human rights, peace and security.  Far too often, their heroic efforts and stories have gone untold — especially the millions of black women, immigrant women and others from diverse communities who have strengthened America across every generation.

In our community, I am proud to serve on the Voorhees Township Committee with two women who are role models, Deputy Mayor Michelle Nocito and Committeeperson Jacklyn Kassab Fetbroyt.  They will be sharing their thoughts in this column over the next two weeks.

** The Voorhees Breakfast Rotary Club presents Trivia Night on Saturday, March 8 at Gibbsboro Fire Company #1.  For more information, contact Roger Leonard at raljr@log-insurance.comor by calling (856) 627-2600 x427

** Voorhees Township’s Annual Free Rabies Clinic will be held on May 3 from 9am-12pm at Lions Lake Complex.  For more information, contact the Township Clerk’s Office at (856)429-7757 or email pets@voorheesnj.com

** The Animal Welfare Association is hosting a spay/neuter clinic for feral cats in Voorhees throughout the entire year.  The initiative is part of the Alley Cat Rescue’s Global Feral Fix Challenge, reinforcing AWA’s commitment to humane solutions for community cats. For more information, visit www.awanj.orgor contact Jaime Moore jaimem@awanj.org