A number of activities have been planned for the March celebration of Women’s History Month at Illinois Valley Community College.

The theme for this year’s events is “Nevertheless, She Persisted.” The events are made possible through the Diversity Team, SAGE, the Student Government Association, and IVCC faculty.

Professors Amanda Cook-Pesperman and Kimberly M. Radek-Hall kicked off the month’s activities with a presentation called “#MeToo Movement: The Once and Future Feminists.”

The pair discussed Time’s Person of the Year, the origins of the movement, its effects, and potential future impact.

Women’s History Month was introduced by the National Women’s History Project 36 years ago.

The National Women’s History Month Project explains that in spite of the fact that “women’s history is intertwined with the history shared with men, several factors—social, religious, economic, and biological—have worked to create a unique sphere of women’s history.

“The stories of women’s achievements are integral to the fabric our history. Learning about women’s tenacity, courage, and creativity throughout the centuries is a tremendous source of strength.”

For information on Women’s History Month, refer to the National Women’s History Project at http://www.nwhp.org.
For an updated schedule of IVCC events, visit http://www2.ivcc.edu/gender_studies/Womens_History_Month.html.

All events are free and open to the public.

Women’s History Month Calendar 2018

Monday, March 26
Building CTC, Room 124, IVCC
noon-12:45 p.m.
Brown Bag Lunch: A Reader’s Theatre presentation of The Eve O’Lution of Women, or Eve Through the Looking Glass will be presented by Donna Stone and the Drama Mamas. The dramatic reading follows the development of women from historic times–Eve in the Bible through the embattled women of the Greek Lysistrata, Chaucer’s Wife of Bath from The Canterbury Tales, and Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew–and into modern times with women from Sheridan’s The Rivals and George Bernard Shaw’s Man and Superman, finally ending with the woman of the future.

This satirical look at women’s history packs a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor into a thirty minute production. The Drama Mamas are led by founder, author, and director, Donna Stone, and include Lisa Gill, Cindy Pollard, Nancy Schell, and Connie Svoboda.
Wednesday, March 28

Building CTC, Room 124, IVCC
noon- 1 p.m.

Brown Bag Lunch: “The Women of IVCC”

In this session Professor Nora Villarreal will showcase the persistent and dedicated women–whether faculty, students, staff, administrators, or community members– who helped shape (or have helped shape) Illinois Valley Community College into the renowned and respected institution that it has become.

Friday, March 30
Building CTC, Room 124, IVCC
11 a.m.-noon
Brown Bag Lunch: “’Nevertheless, She Persisted’: A Presentation of IVCC Students’ Papers Honoring Feminists whose Persistence Has Paved the Way”

In this session please join dedicated IVCC students presenting researched papers of people whose feminist persistence in their fields has led to

greater social justice or exposed more voices to the dominant culture. Refreshments will be available.