Empowered Women Change the World
Empowered Women Change the World. This message is more than our March theme: it is the mantra of our collective YWCA movement. Since 1858, we have dedicated our mission to empowering women. From offering childcare centers to emergency shelters to job training programs, we have been – and continue to be – a community of support, empowering millions of women as they, in turn, empower their families, communities, and the world.
This Women’s History Month, we are celebrating and uplifting international women, everyday “sheroes”, and the women wearing invisible capes who are making contributions to history, culture, and society as well as holding our families and communities together during Covid-19, from taking on virtual schooling to working on the front lines of the pandemic response
Follow along on social media and engage with us as we celebrate the achievements of empowered women changing the world.
#WomensHistoryMonth #WomensHerstoryMonth #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerWomen #IWD2021
International Women
Empowered Women Across the Globe
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- Loujain al-Hathloul (Saudi Arabia), Women’s rights activist who fought for women’s right to drive
- Chantawipa Apisuk (Thailand), Sex work activist and Founder of EMPOWER
- Isatou Ceesay (Gambia), Activist, social entrepreneur, “Queen of Recycling” and initiator of the One Plastic Bag movement.
- Olivia Cotes-James (Hong Kong), Women’s advocate, Founder and CEO of LUÜNA Naturals
- Josefa Llanes Escoda (Philippines), Civic leader, social worker, Filipino advocate of women’s suffrage, and Founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines.
- Marielle Franco (Brazil), Politician, feminist, human rights advocate, and environmental activist
- Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Peace activist, social worker, women’s rights advocate, and Nobel Peace laureate
- Sophia Huang Xueqin (China), Women’s rights activist and champion of the #MeToo movement in China
- Frida Kahlo (Mexico), Artist, activist, women’s and LGBTQA+ rights advocate
- Naomi Klein (Canada), Journalist, author, and activist
- Saara Kuugongelwa (Namibia), Prime Minister of Namibia
- Christine Lagarde (France), President of the European Central Bank
- Cho Nam Joo (South Korea), Gender equity activist, TV script writer, and author
- Wangari Maathai (Kenya), Scholar, professor, environmental activist, and first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Meghan Markle (England), Actress and Duchess of Sussex
- Momoko Nojo (Japan), Student activist, women’s rights advocate, and Founder of NO YOUTH NO JAPAN
- Wai Nu (Myanmar), Activist, human rights advocate, founder and executive director of the Women’s Peace Network in Burma
- Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigerian), Economist, international development expert, and first African and first woman to serve as Director General of the World Trade Organization.
- Caster Semenya (South Africa), Athlete, middle-distance runner, and Olympic hold medalist
- Greta Thunberg (Swedan), Environmental activist and organizer of the Fridays for Future: School Climate Strike Movement.
- Malala Yousafzi (Pakistan), Activist, female education advocate, and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
- Chloé Zhao (China), Film director, screenwriter, and producer
Everyday Sheroes
YWCA Everyday Sheroes
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- Gaye Adams-Massey, CEO of YWCA St. Paul
- Laurel Berryman, Racial & Gender Equity Program Coordinator at YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts
- Stacie Blake, CEO of YWCA Lancaster
- Barbara Brothers, Board Member of YWCA Mahoning Valley
- Linda Cavaioli, Executive Director of YWCA Central Massachusetts
- Maria Elena Chavez, Staff Member of YWCA Greater Los Angeles
- Adrienne Cochrane, CEO of YWCA Hartford
- Liz Dineen, Executive Director of YWCA Western Massachusetts
- Sharmen Gowens, CEO of YWCA Atlanta
- Sandra Gonzalez, Child Care Provider at YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
- Maria Imperial, CEO of YWCA White Plains & Central Westchester
- Velva Jenkins, CEO of YWCA Lower Cape Fear
- Suzy Johnson, CFO of YWCA of Asheville
- Charisse Mitchell, CEO of YWCA West Central Michigan
- Margaret Mitchell, CEO of YWCA Greater Cleveland
- Dianna Payton, CEO of YWCA Greater Baton Rouge
- Kristen Pine, Executive Director of YWCA South Hampton Roads
- Erin Prochnow, CEO of YWCA Cass Clay
- Francesca Rattray, CEO of YWCA San Antonio
- Sharon Roberson, CEO of YWCA Nashville & Middle TN
- Kim Siciliano, Executive Director of YWCA North Eastern New York
- Kirsten Sikkelee, CEO of YWCA Central Carolinas
- Stacie Torrez, Director for Youth Services at YWCA Northeast Kansas
- Wendy Waters-Connell, CEO of YWCA Hamilton
- Stacey Woodland, CEO of YWCA Tri-County Area
Empowered Women in Sports
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- Simone Biles, American Gymnast
- Misty Copeland, American Dancer
- Billie Jean King, Tennis Player
- Michelle Kwan, American Figure Skater
- Nancy Lopez, American Golfer
- Shirley Muldowney, American Auto Racer
- Megan Rapinoe, American Soccer Player
- Wilma Rudloph, American Track and Field Sprinter
- Patt Summitt, Women’s Basketball Coach
- Serena Williams, Tennis Player
Empowered Women in Activism
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- Susan B. Anthony, Women’s rights activist, suffragette, and abolitionist
- Mary McLeod Bethune, American educator, stateswoman, philanthropist, womanist, and civil rights activist
- Tarana Burke, Women’s rights activist and founder of the #MeToo movement
- Patrisse Cullors, Artist, activist, and co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement
- Shariana Ferrer, LGBTQA+ and feminist activist, scholar, organizer, and co-founder of La Colectiva Feminista en Construcción
- Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Transgender rights activist, community leader, and Stonewall Rebellion veteran.
- Bell Hooks, Author, professor, feminist, and social activist.
- Dorothy Height, Civil rights and women’s rights activist.
- Yuri Kochiyama, Civil rights activist and internment camp survivor.
- Coretta Scott King, Author, civil rights leader, and activist.
- Winona LaDuke, Environmentalist, economist, writer, and activist.
- Grace Lee Boggs, American author, social activist, philosopher, and feminist
- Karen Nussbaum, Labor leader and founding Director of Working America
- Gloria Steinem, Feminist journalist, activist, and spokeswoman for the American feminist movement
- Sylvia Rivera, Latinx Stonewall activist and Founder of the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR)
- Eleanor Roosevelt, Diplomat, activist, and the longest serving First Lady of the United States
- Sojourner Truth, Abolitionist, and women’s rights activist
- Raquel Willis, Award-winning writer, activist, and director of communications for Ms. Foundation
Empowered Women in Hollywood
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- Margaret Cho
- Priyanka Chopra
- Laverne Cox
- Viola Davis
- Ava DuVernay
- Tracee Ellis Ross
- America Ferrera
- Jane Fonda
- Angelina Jolie
- Mindy Kaling
- Alicia Keys
- Beyonce Knowles Carter
- Eva Longoria
- Janet Mock
- Angelica Ross
- Yara Shahidi
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Meryl Streep
- Cicely Tyson
- Gabrielle Union
- Kerry Washington
Empowered Women in Art
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- Dorothea Lange, Documentary photographer and photojournalist
- Zarina Hashmi, Artist, printmaker, and sculptor
- Julie Mehretu, Contemporary visual artist, painter, and printer
- Georgia O’Keeffe, Artist, painter, and Mother of American modernism
- Faith Ringgold, Painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, and quilter
- Amy Sherald, Painter and portraitist
- Kara Walker, Contemporary painter, silhouettist, print-maker, installation artist, filmmaker, and professor.
Empowered Women Leaders
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- Ana Corrales, COO for Google’s Consumer Hardwar Business
- Abigail Johnson, President and CEO of Fidelity
- Ana Corrales, COO for Google’s Consumer Hardwar Business
- Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul
- Bea Dixon, CEO and Founder of The Honey Pot Company
- Bessie Coleman, First African American and Native American woman to hold a pilot license
- Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
- Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO of Act One
- Tory Burch, Founder of Tory Burch and Tory Burch Foundation
- Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle
- Ester Choo, Founder of Time’s Up Healthcare
- Melinda Gates, Co-Founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and former GM at Microsoft
- Ariana Huffington, Founder of the Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global
- Sheila Johnson, Co-Founder of BET and CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts
- Lesa Kennedy, Chairperson of Board of Directors of NASCAR
- Sallie Krawcheck, CEO and Co-founder of Ellevest
- Marianne Markowitz, CEO of First Women’s Bank
- Marjorie Merriweather Post, Philanthropist and former Owner of General Foods, Inc
- Kim Ng, MLB Executive, Senior VP of Operations
- Indra Nooyi, Former CEO of PepsiCo
- Maria Rios, CEO of Nation Waste, Inc.
- Michele Roberts, Executive Director, NBA Players Association
- Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and Author of Leanin.org
- Mackenzie Scott, Novelist and philanthropist
- Madam C.J. Walker, First African America woman to become a self-made millionaire
- Lettie Pate Whitehead, First woman to serve on board of directors of a major corporation (Coca-Cola)
- Oprah Winfrey, Chairwoman and CEO of Harpo Production and Chairwoman, CEO, and CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network
Empowered Women in STEM
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- Aisha Bowe, Aerospace engineer, founder, and CEO of STEMBoard
- Kimberly Bryant, Founder of Black Girls Code and former engineer
- Kalpana Chawla, First Indian-bord woman in space
- Ruby Hirose, Biochemisty and Bacteriologist, researched blood clotting and Thrombin, allergies, and researched cancer using anitimetabolites
- Ayanna Howard, Roboticist, entrepreneur, educator, and the Chair of the School of Interactive Computing in the Georgia Tech College of Computing
- Katherine Johnson, completed the NASA calculations necessary for several space missions including the 1969 moon landing and served as a human computer for Langley Research Center
- Henrietta Leavitt, American astronomer, measured and cataloged the brightness of stars
- Swati Mohan, NASA aerospace engineer
- Deena Pierott, Diversity & equity strategist, Founder and Executive Director of iUrban Teen Program, and a founding member of Black Women in STEM 2.0
- Mayly Sanchez, Particle Physicist
Empowered Women in Public Service
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- Madeleine Albright, Politician, diplomat, first female US Secretary of State
- Hillary Clinton, Politician, diplomat, lawyer, writer, and public speaker
- Shirley Chisholm, Politician, educator, author, and first black women elected to US Congress.
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg,
- Kamala Harris, Politician, attorney, and first female, African American, and Asian American Vice President
- Amy Klobuchar, Lawyer and politician
- Mia Love, Political commentator, politician, and former U.S. Representative
- Loretta Lynch, Lawyer and former U.S. Attorney General
- Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink, Attorney and politician from Hawaii. first Japanese American and woman of color to serve in the House of Representatives.
- Susana Martinez, Politician, attorney, first female Governor of New Mexico, and first Latina female governor.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Politician and US Representative
- Ayana Pressley, Politician, and US Representative
- Condoleezza Rice, Diplomat, political scientist, civil servant, professor, and former US Secretary of State
- Sonia Sotomayor, First Latina Supreme Court Justice
- Janet Yellen, Economist and first woman U.S. Treasury Secretary
Women who wear invisibles capes
The Future is Female
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- Malika Andrews, Women’s and civil rights advocate, ESPN’s only Black woman NBA reporter
- Amiya Alexander, Dancer, entrepreneur, and Founder of Mobile Dance Academy
- Soona Amhaz, Investor and Founder of Volt Capital
- Talia Bender, Woman’s advocate and President of The Female Quotient
- Ruby Chitsey, Founded Three Wishes for Ruby’s Residents
- Mari Copeny “Little Miss Flint”, Clean water activists and the youngest Youth Ambassador at the Women’s March on Washington.
- Kayla and Keonna Davis, Entrepreneurs, and youngest Black women in the U.S. to own a beauty supply store
- Mo’ne Davis, Athlete, baseball hall of famer, ESPY’s Best Breakthrough Athlete recipient, and the first girl to pitch a shutout in Little League Baseball World Series.
- Marley Dias, Activist, literary advocate, writer, and Founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks Campaign.
- Journe Jamison, Lead instructor and creator of Health Justice Heroes.
- Jazz Jennings, Youtuber, spokesmodel, television personality, LGBT rights activist.
- Melissa Khasbagan, Global literacy advocate and Founder of 1000 Books Campaign.
- Bella Lack, Environmental and endangered species activist, climate strike organizer
- Asia Newson, Entrepreneur and CEO of Super Business Girl
- Maya Penn, Eco-designer, entrepreneur, activist, Ted Talk speaker, and founder of Maya’s Ideas 4 the Planet.
- Kheris Rogers, Anti-Bullying advocate and Founder of Flexin’ My Complexion
- Madison Star and Mallory Iyana, Entrepreneurs and Founders of Angels & Tomboys.
- Daisia Taylor, Scientist and researcher creating surgical sutures that change color to let patients know if a wound is infected.
- Zoe Terry, Anti-Bullying advocate, Founder and CEO of Zoe’s Dolls non-profit.
- Hannah Testa, Anti-pollution and corporate sustainability activist, Founder of Hannah4Change
- Mikaila Ulmer, Chief Executive of Me & The Bees Lemonade
- Kahlila Williams, Civic engagement activist
- Irene Yoo, Founder of the Las Vegas Arts, Music, & Education Orchestra
Women’s History Month Playlist
Tune in as we set the vibe and celebrate Empowered Women Changing the World! Don’t forget to share on your social media #YWCAPlaylist