The Phoenix Arts & Culture and Women’s Commissions, along with other community champions, will host a 2020 centennial celebration of a woman’s right to vote. The event includes an online photography exhibit, video testimonials, storytelling, and curricular guides for our schools. “While our original idea of having a large audience and traveling exhibit had to be adjusted due to the pandemic, it never stopped our task force’s momentum and we are proud of what has been accomplished”, states Regina Nixon, taskforce chair and chair of the Arts & Culture Commission.
The ‘Phoenix Herstories’ photography exhibit is accompanied with video testimonials on why voting and community engagement matters. Claudia Johnstone was selected to photograph the 31 female influencers who visually convey Phoenix’s unique cityscape of women making a difference in a variety of career settings. These 31 honorees were selected because of the civic engagement and leadership they have shown within our community. “We want to honor the historical struggles to gain ratification of a woman’s right to vote by amplifying the stories of women within our own community who are pushing us forward today,” said Linda Alexander, Phoenix Women’s Commission.
‘Phoenix Herstories’, will be displayed with community partner The FOUND:RE Hotel through a six-story video installation on the southeast-facing exterior hotel wall. The hotel will light up the city using an ever-changing canvas. The carousel of video-projected images will be prominently displayed from 8 pm until 1 am beginning on September 01st and running through the month.
A dedicated website, http://www.phxherstories.org., will include women describing their voting experiences, telling stories about other women who inspired them, links to the history of the 19th Amendment, events focused on the 19th Amendment as well as curricular guides for teachers and students that highlight historical aspects and connect our shared history to today’s female leaders.
The website launches September 01, 2020.
South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute faculty director Liz Warren organized a storytelling forum August 20-29, 2020 to help identify modern changemakers. Community members shared stories about women who cared about the community and championed the rights of others. These stories are part of a workshop series included on the 19th Amendment website. For further information about the Storytelling workshops, please visit: http://storytellinginstitute.weebly.com/workshop-registration.html
The taskforce plans for a year-long commemoration of the 19th Amendment, honoring prominent female heroes in the Phoenix community. The project aims to educate the next generation about significant historical events while allowing community members to share their own inspiring stories. The plan is to move forward with a traveling exhibit, including at City Hall, as is feasible in the next year.
‘Phoenix Herstories’ honorees are:
- Robbin Coulon, Director of Legal Services, Area Agency on Aging, Region One
- Deanna Salazar, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
- Kimber Lanning, Local First Founder
- Reyna Montoya, Founder, CEO at Aliento
- Leticia de la Vara, Chief of Staff, TNTP.
- Cindy Dach, Writer, Artist and Community Advocate, Co-owner and General Manager of Changing Hands Bookstore
- Susan Gerard, Board Member, Valleywise Health Systems
- Dede Yazzie Devine, CEO, Native American Connections
- Mayor Kate Gallego, Mayor, City of Phoenix
- Councilwoman Thelda Williams, District 1, City of Phoenix
- Councilwoman Debra Stark, District 3, City of Phoenix
- Councilwoman Laura Pastor, District 4, City of Phoenix
- Councilwoman Betty Guardado, District 5, City of Phoenix
- Mesha Davis, CEO, Arizona Foundation for Women
- Carla Vargas Jasa, CEO, United Way
- Jenny Poon, Entrepreneur and Founder/CEO at CO+HOOTS
- Suzanne Pfister, President & CEO, Vitalyst Health Foundation.
- Elisa de la Vara, Chief Community Officer, Arizona Community Foundation.
- Leezie Kim, Chief Legal Counsel, Fox Restaurant Concept.
- Mi-Ai Parrish, Head of ASU Media Enterprise and former publisher and president of USA Today Network Arizona
- Dr. Kimberly A. Scott, Founding Executive Director of the ASU Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology.
- Dr. Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, Co-Founder/ Chief Clinical Officer
- Kenja Hassan, Director, Cultural Relations, ASU Office of Government and Community Engagement
- Patricia Duarte, CEO, Trellis
- Patti Hibbeler, Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix Indian Center.
- Alessandra Navidad, Executive Director, ACLU Arizona.
- Christina Burroughs, Managing Partner, MRA Associates.
- Dr. Michele Halyard, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Dean, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Arizona Campus
- Columba Sainz, Arizona State Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force and Ecomadres
- Ginger Sykes Torres, Environmental Consultant, Community Advocate, and Philanthropist.
- Carla Wade Logan, Owner Carly’s Bistro, located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District.
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