MOSAIC and WSA to celebrate National Women’s Month

March 10, 2020

It is officially National Women’s Month, a time to reflect on women’s suffrage and honor women who have made incredible contributions to our community and society as a whole.

In celebration of National Women’s Month, MOSAIC (the Multicultural Office for Student Access, Inclusiveness and Community) and the Women’s Student Association are coming together to host their second annual Womxn of Influence event, the ‘x’ being an intentional choice to not just cis-gender women but also those who identify as transgender and non-binary.

“This event is really important,” said Shaie Muhamad, vice president of the Women’s Student Association and one of the many event organizers for the National Women’s Month evening event. “It’s necessary to highlight the women on our campus and honor all the women activists who paved the way for us today.”

Philip Oke-Thomas, student sody vice president and one of the other organizers of the event, said the event is “a celebration of women on campus and off campus who have had a great influence.” Philip was one of the primary people who conceptualized the event and organized it last year. He was motivated by both personal and community-oriented reasons.

“First off,” Oke-Thomas said, “I was thinking about how we could highlight the different women here on campus who have an influential impact not only on me but on every student. But I also took it from a personal aspect of thinking about the women in my life who might not have gotten the recognition that they deserve.”

In the end, the number one thing Oke-Thomas hopes attendees will get from the event is “to not take people in your life for granted. Whenever someone dies, we always think, ‘Man I really loved that person.’ But that person never hears it when they’re alive. So, I think highlighting that and just letting people know they’re appreciated today is a great thing.”

But it’s not just the event that Oke-Thomas is passionate about. It’s what it stands for and hopes to accomplish in our community.

“Highlighting the achievements made by women is needed in our daily society. Having a time of the year where we can celebrate women is necessary, but we shouldn’t confine our celebrations/recognition to just the month of March. Women’s history is world history and is forever intertwined.”

The event takes place on March 10 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. in Kettle Creek, which is attached to the Roaring Fork dining hall. People of all genders are encouraged to attend the event. It is free and open to the public.

During the event, guests can expect to hear from four to five prominent women in the community, who will each share about influential women in their own lives and their own personal journey as a woman in our community. Afterwards, there will be a networking portion of the event. Food and drink will be provided.

If there are questions or concerns about accommodations for the event, email the MOSAIC office here.