Happy International Women’s Day: Time to recognize the courage, leadership and resilience of women
In a packed community room where beadwork sat beside seed packets and a whiteboard listed workshops, organizers pinned a small sign that read happy international women’s day and began naming women in the room — mothers, birth keepers, teachers. happy international women’s day appears again and again this month in schedules and social posts, a prompt to celebrate tradition, lift up lived experience, and ask how communities can better protect and support women.
How are communities marking Happy International Women’s Day?
At Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center, staff have chosen to stretch the single day into a month of events designed to celebrate and uplift women. “We are trying to highlight many different things that we think would inspire females, ” said Miranda Gabriel, employee, Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center. The center’s calendar includes beading nights with Kawisaienhne Albany, seed songs with Iakorihwatoken Hemlock, Gardens of Hope with Karyn Murray, and a Women’s Roles and Responsibilities workshop led by Wendy Hill of the Cayuga Nation.
Kevin Nelson, employee, Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center, said of the planned talks, “She’s very culturally knowledgeable, ” speaking of Wendy Hill. Nelson added that the programming aims to help the community understand “the roles and responsibilities that women have, ” linking cultural education to public appreciation and participation by men and women alike.
Why is this month important for preventing violence and honoring leadership?
Local advocates frame the month as more than celebration: it is a reminder of the work that continues to keep families safe. “Women’s History Month (March) is a time to recognize the courage, leadership, and resilience of women who have shaped our communities often in ways that go unseen, ” wrote Shannon Burdette, UCAN Member and Someplace Safe Crime Victim Advocate, Alexandria, MN. Burdette urged attention to prevention and community responsibility, noting that “Keeping Douglas County violence free requires a shared commitment. “
The letter emphasizes that preventing violence is not only about response but about education, accountability and compassion — teaching children empathy and boundaries, supporting survivors without judgment, and fostering environments where healthy relationships are the norm. This framing ties cultural celebration to concrete goals: honoring women’s contributions while addressing the factors that allow abuse to persist.
What actions are local groups and leaders taking?
Organizers and service providers are pursuing parallel paths: cultural programs that reinforce identity and belonging, and advocacy networks focused on safety and support. The language center’s month includes online recognitions where community members can nominate mothers, sisters, co-workers and friends with a photo and message to show appreciation. “That way we can show our love to all the females in the community, ” said Miranda Gabriel, employee, Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center.
On the safety and prevention side, United Communities Advocating Non-Violence (UCAN) invites concerned citizens to join coordinated meetings and to work alongside advocates, service providers, law enforcement partners and educators. The letter from Shannon Burdette names collaboration as a pathway to healing and calls for offering resources without judgment and believing survivors as part of a collective response. Practical invitations include monthly gatherings hosted at the Alexandria Police Department for those interested in transforming the community into an abuse-free environment.
Workshops with birth keepers Patricia Gabriel and Taionthahine Nicholas at the Tekontateriéntare Multigenerational Center for Women’s Wellness, and a We Are Creation presentation by Beverly Cook that mixes story and science, demonstrate how cultural knowledge and wellness programming are being paired to support women’s roles across generations.
As the month unfolds, local organizers hope the mix of celebration, education and activism will deepen community bonds and translate into everyday practices that protect the vulnerable. “We want to show the love, ” said Miranda Gabriel, employee, Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center, describing the intent behind daily recognition posts and community nominations.
Back in the room where the sign was pinned, women smoothed beadwork and exchanged phone numbers for workshops; the phrase happy international women’s day hung like a quiet invitation to keep the work going beyond a single date. The question now is whether recognition can become routine action — the kind of steady, shared commitment Shannon Burdette calls for — so celebration and prevention move forward together.
