Women’s History Month Events

Women’s History Month has origins as a national celebration in 1981, when congress passed legislation declarining March 7th as Women’s History Week. Over the next five years, Congress passed new legislation changing it to Women’s History Month. The purpose of this dedication is to celebreate the contrubutions women have made to the United States.

Download a pdf of this calendar: Women’s History Month events 2023 

Below we’ve listed a few ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month yourself. Of course use the rest of this pdf to find events happening in Kansas City and on campus!

Shop from woman-owned Businesses

– Read biographies about women who have contributed to history

– Be aware of the issues women still face today

– Write a thank you note to a woman who has inspired you.

 

Remember that, while we have curated this list to things that happen in March, many of these events and organizations occur throughout the year.

 

Local Organizations:

Kansas City Women’s Chamber of Commerce – For networking, professional support and mentoring opportunities

Young Women on the Move – Teaching middle and High school girls healthy additudes, behaviors and skills

OneKC for Women – An umbrella alliance that brings together serveral organizations all dedicated to providing opportunities and connections for women

Amythst Place – Long term supportive housing for women and children recovering from generational poverty, substance use and trauma.

Journey to New Life – Work to support formerly incarcerated women to help with reentry into society

 

Art:

Women’s History Pop Up at Union Station          Free                            Mar 12

Spencer Art Museum                                          Free                         All Month
“Visit our current exhibition, Debut, to view a section entitled Portraits of Womanhood.”

 

Comedy:

Hysterical Harpies                                            $12+                   Mar 4+

Cinema & Performance:

Only One Day a Year                           $12+                                  Mar 5

Education – Museums:

John Wornall House                                             Free                              Mar 1
Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month with our interactive artist series! Each week, we will explore a different woman artist and design a project inspired by what we learn. All materials will be provided. This program is perfect for participants ages 5 to 18.

Amelia Earhart: Childhood and Influences                     Free                  Mar 7
In celebration of Women’s History Month, come hear Heather Roesch, Executive Director of Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum tell us stories of Amelia’s childhood and the strong women who helped shape the woman she would become.

KU Celebrating Women in Science                  Free                                Mar 25
In honor of Women’s History Month in March, we invite you to the 2nd annual Celebration of Women in Science event at the KU Natural History Museum! Come meet KU scientists, learn about scientific techniques, view specimens and try fun, hands-on experiments. Learn about women scientists from around the world and explore a variety of careers in science!

Natalie Frank: Unbound                                 Free                                All Month

Natalie Frank: Unbound is the first survey exhibition of Brooklyn, New York-based artist Natalie Frank’s (American, born 1980) drawings inspired by some of the best-known and most controversial literary narratives. Spanning a decade of Frank’s feminist drawing practice, Unbound will present work from the artist’s four major drawing series, each of which is the result of Frank’s rigorous research.

National Muesuem of Toys and Mineratures                $8                     All Month
Featuring a Women in STEM Free coloring book to visitors as well as the Mother and Child Figures exhibit all month long.

 

Education – Speakers, Panels and Discussions:

Round Table Discussion                                  Free                                 Mar 1

“Lonita Cook will be moderating for the evening. The discussion will focus on each individuals experiences in film, advice for others, and the need for diverse voices in the industry.”

Matters of the Heart                                     $23                                   Mar 3
“Come ready to have Heart-To-Heart conversations and a Heart to Hear! Pullout your favorite RED outfit and come celebrate Women Heart Health and International Women’s Month with some EXtraordinary Women! “

Two Wings: Advancing Equality                          Free                                 Mar 4
“Can humanity truly reach its full potential without all of its members being free to reach and contribute their all? Is equality a tug of war where one side gains at another’s expense? Does empowering women require taking opportunities away from men, or does it actually strengthen the whole and create more opportunities and a better world for everyone?”

InnovateHer Netoworking Event                                     Free                                   Mar 7
“The KC Chamber’s Executive Women’s Leadership Council and InnovateHER are teaming up to celebrate Women’s History Month and to kick off International Women’s Day! Join us for a networking opportunity in collaboration with InnovateHER – a group of audacious innovators, industry disruptors, intentional connectors and courageous changemakers ready to challenge the status quo in the name of economic and cultural progress in our communities”

The Legacy of Mary Lou Williams                         Free                                Mar 11
“Joe Briggs, executive strategist at Amazon; Cliff Wiley, L’83, decorated track athlete and attorney; and Kyle Velte, professor and associate dean at KU Law, will participate in a moderated discussion about their experiences advocating for social justice in the sports world.”

Local Authors Nonfiction Showcase                                        $12                                    Mar 11
“Women’s History Month in March tells the story of Independence, Kansas City, and Jackson County… from the perspectives of local WOMEN in “HER-story.” “

Women in Green                                          $12                                       Mar 30
“Celebrate Women’s History Month with USGBC Central Plains. Join us March 30th for a Women in Green like no other. Hear from women across our community in the sustainability industry, consider your role in leading, share with peers and colleagues. We’re excited to return to celebrating you during Women’s History Month. “

Riding Through the Ages                   Free                                      April 18
“Being a woman is a dynamic experience and our bike life adapts to our changing bodies and social lives. Learn from this panel how they navigate bicycling for transportation or recreation, riding with kids, and using technology and gear to ease the transitions.”

 

Influencers:

Disability

• Imani Barbarin @Crutches_and_spice
• Annie Segarra @annieelainey
• Haley Moss @HaleyMossArt
• Madeline Stuart @madelinesmodelling_

Education

• Gabby Jahanshahi-Edlin
• Sonita Alizadeh
• Gina Martin
• Ashley Lukashevksy

LGBTQIA+

• Calle Y Poche @calleypoche
• Erika Hart @Iharterika
• Miss Peppermint @peppermint247
• Amber Whittington

Wellness

• Hannah Hart @harto

• Nabela Noor @Nabela

• Sonia Jhas

Joy

• Jazzmyne Haye @JazzmyneJay
• Eva Chen @EvaChen212
• Tawny Cale @sisterbeads4
• Janea Brown @jnaydaily

Food

• Sue Lau @palatablepastime
• Tiana Gee @ChefTianaGee
• Food Dolls
• Zoe Francois @ZoeBakes

 

Literature:

Author Chat & Coloring: Black Girls Code the Future                                             Free                                             Mar 13

Join us on March 13th as we celebrate National Children’s Picture Book Month with an author chat with, Winsome Bingham, author of Soul Food Sunday! This chat has been pre-recorded, and will feature interview with author, q&a user-submitted from our ecosystem, and a teaser of Soul Food Sunday read by Winsome Bingham.

EPIC Book Networking event                             Free                                             Mar 14
This event features author and executive coach, Carolyn Buck Luce in an exclusive virtual webinar for the United WE network on her bestselling book, EPIC, The Women’s Power Play book.

Drop In – Celebrate Women Authors!                                  Free                                             Mar 14 & 18
The Mercer County Library System in Lawrence Kansas is hosting a wealth of free activities for kids, teens and adults throughout March. Take your kids to a Women in STEM events, make a historic craft with your teen, or join virtually to learn about feminism in music, female spies of WWII and inventors. The Library System will also be hosting a film series throughout the month.

Johnson County Library                                    Free                                             All Month
The Johnson County Library invites adults and kids to discuss their favorite books – both new and old stories. Throughout March, they are hosting discussion for: American Girl books, Conviction, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks Law and more.

 

Music:

Taylor Swift Night at the Truman                                   $15+                                         Mar 3
“We promise that you’ll never find another party like THE TAYLOR PARTY: TAYLOR SWIFT NIGHT, a Taylor Swift Inspired Dance Party. Celebrate a multi time Grammy award winning artist who has changed the music game. Surrounded by Swifties, you’ll sing and dance through all her iconic eras.”

Michelle Hawkings – Almost Always Patsy Cline                                   $30                                             Mar 5
“Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8th 1932. She played her final show at the age of 30 on March 3rd. 1963 in Kansas City Kansas, before her fateful plane ride home; killing her along with Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins on March 5th 1963. It’s been 60 years since we lost her and her music is STILL RELEVANT today!!”

After All: 60 Years of Cher                                          $23                          Mar 25-26
“Known as the ‘Goddess of Pop’, this legend’s pop grandeur encompasses singer, actress, philanthropist, and LGBTQ+ activist and icon – It’s Cher! This ultimate pop chameleon invented the female rock star prototype and paved the way for so many with the unapologetic fearlessness that we all aspire to champion! From “I Got You Babe” to “Strong Enough” and “Dark Lady” to “Believe,” we’re gonna turn back time through six decades of hit after hit!”

Sing Like a Girl                                                                            May
“Sing “Like a Girl” will explore (with some seriousness and some tongue-in-cheek) the expectations imposed on women for hundreds of years and how we have navigated through time, adapted, and learned to lead, heal and rise. All songs on the program are composed by women, while singing the spoken and written words of women.”

 

Podcasts:

HISTORY
The Woman Who, hosted by : Zawe Ashton
“The show’s all about portraits of influential female trailblazers in the world of performing arts, music, fashion, literature, and more. Dive deep into the lives of these pioneering women and come away feeling, well, a little bit inspired. The first episode looks at the life of Lucy Christiana and her rise from being a penniless single mother to the head of couture brand Lucile.”

The History Chicks, Hosted by: Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenwider
“In each episode of this biweekly podcast, the hosts introduce a different female character from history — factual or fictional. Episodes are an hour long, just enough time to dive deep into the stories of these characters, and perfect for an after-work listening session. There are over 200 episodes to listen to, covering such inspirational women as Charlotte Brontë, Wonder Woman, and Empress Sisi of Austria, to name a few.”

What’s Her Name  Hosted by: Olivia Meikle & Katie Nelson
“Each episode dives deep into forgotten history, telling tales of women who have been left out of the history books — inspiring women you’ve never heard of, but should have, like composer Florence Price, the first Black woman to have her work performed by major orchestras. Along the way, guests including writers, scholars, and historians paint a fascinating picture of these “lost” women and their contributions to our history. “

EDUCATION
Profess-Hers,  Hosted by: Misty Wilson-Mehrtens & Allegra Davis Hanna
“Enjoy a different perspective on some of your favorite movies or shows — a feminist and female perspective, that is. Discover tales of some of the most remarkable women throughout history and learn about new books that portray women realistically in this refreshingly honest yet funny podcast.”

Stuff Mom Never Told you Hosted by: Samantha McVey & Anney Reese
“This is a candid, fresh view on gender and one of the best podcasts for Women’s History Month. New episodes land on Wednesdays and Fridays and cover diverse yet accessible topics ranging from the world of female assassins and secret agents to the passing of strict anti-abortion laws in Poland.”

The Product Boss Hosted by: Jacqueline Snyder & Minna Khounlo
“These inspiring women are both first-generation immigrant women from minority families that have beaten the odds to achieve great levels of success. Now, they’re taking all they’ve learned and are mentoring other females through their incredible podcast that discusses small business strategies, digital marketing, female entrepreneurship, time management, side hustles, work/life balance and so much more. “

The Guilty Feminist  Hosted by: Deborah Frances-White
“Welcome to The Guilty Feminist, an award-winning podcast and live show hosted by Deborah Frances-White. We’re a supportive forum to discuss our noble goals as 21st century feminists and the hypocrisies and insecurities that undermine them.”

…But it’s fine Hosted by: Louisa & Lauren Ponder
“Conversations with women about when it’s not [explicit] fine – it’s a small phrase that doesn’t really mean anything. It slips off the tongue with ease. But is it really as harmless as it seems? These are some of the questions hosts Louisa and Lauren ponder and they are here to talk all about it.”

Push your Peak
“We are loving Wattbike’s Push Your Peak, which is presented by journalist and athlete Louise Minchin. This one is for athletes that ‘don’t know their limits’. The series features a string of high-profile athletes and individuals who hold a remarkable story.”

FUN
The Girls Bathroom Hosted by: Cinzia Baylis-Zullo & Sophao Tuxford
“In this podcast we want to help you with your dilemmas, by trying to make sense of these boys wasting our time, the girls trying to make our lives difficult and all the things in between.”

Gal Pals Hosted by: Georgie Morely & Engrid Latina
“Tune in as the hosts candidly chat about navigating specific life moments like: dealing with conflict, getting out of our own heads, owning your ish, healthy communication, and seeing the stories we tell ourselves. This show dives into the kinds of topics you might talk about in therapy. “

Disability Visibility hosted by Alice Wong
“This is the podcast of Alice Wong, who is a disability activist and editor of the collected volume by the same name. The podcast covers a wide range of issues across disability politics, culture, and art, along with incisive analyses of law.”

Jemele Hill is Unbothered, hosted by: Jemele Hill
“The journalist and political commentator offers inside perspectives on influential Black figures and their contributions to culture, speaking with nuance and wisdom. Featuring guests like actor Daniel Kaluuya, musician Questlove, and political commentator Stephen Colbert, Hill fosters compelling and vulnerable conversations. The show focuses on Black women, creating a space for them to hear news and media takes that consider their humanity. ”

2 Dope Queens Hosted by: Julia & Kay Lopes
“2 dope queens giving you lighthearted banter about buzz worthy topics within the POC community.”

Popaganda hosted by Carmen Rios
“Confronting and rejecting the cultural messages that assign value to our bodies based on wealth and status can be revolutionary acts of reclamation—and help feminists redefine “glamour.”

Unladylike Hosted by Cristen Conger
“A feminist lifestyle podcast on a mission to stay curious, build empathy and raise hell. Topics include age-defying friendships, the balance between family and finances, True Crime, cookbooks, manicures as well as intersectional topics and current affairs such as the Iranian Feminist Revolution. If you have a topic you’re interested in – they probably have brought in an expert to discuss it. “

I Weigh hosted by Jameela Jamil
” I WEIGH challenges societal norms through conversations with thought-leaders, performers, activists, influencers, and friends about their own experiences and stories with their mental health. With hilarious and vulnerable conversations, it amplifies and empowers diverse voices in an accessible way to celebrate progress, not perfection.”

 

JCCC Events:

CoLab Events                                                                       All Month

Stop by the CoLab to check out a living display of stories from the Suffragette movement.

Lauren Quin Gallery Talk & Reception           Free                        Mar 2
“Uncover dazzling ingenuity as painter Lauren Quin takes you behind the scenes, inviting you to experience her work through an artistic lens. Drawing the eye in with electric colors and seemingly pulsating lines, Quin’s abstract paintings exist at the juncture of the deeply personal and the universal, the point where each begins to bleed into the other—for, as she proves in her work, if you go too far into either, you are certain to loop back into its opposite.”

Golden Girls Region 6 competition                                       $10                           Mar 5
“This competition is held at Olathe East High School in the main gym. With it being just down the street, we’d love to pack the stands! 11:00- doors open to spectators. We would love to see you there to support our Golden Girls!”

Why Accessibility is Important to all of us                                  Free                         Mar 7
Hear a down-to-earth take on how disability affects all of us from this writer, teacher, advocate and human lady person. The day’s activities will highlight messages from JCCC’s 1022-23 Common Read “Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body.”

Priya Suresh Kambli Exhibit                 Free            Ends Mar 12
Born in India, living in Missouri, visual artist Priya Suresh Kambli experiences life through a dual lens. She is an American citizen, holds a US passport, and has lived in the States for decades — yet her Indian identity will forever influence the way she moves about the world.

Women’s History Month Series            Free                                Mar 7, 21, 28
Center for Student Involvement is celebrating Women’s History Month by having activities around campus to empower women and educate all about women history.

Pioneers in Skirts Film                                            Free                                   Mar 22
“Join us for a special screening of Emmy-nominated film “Pioneers in Skirts,” followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion with area professionals. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; film begins at 6 p.m. Arrive before showtime for complimentary swag bags and snacks.”

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art                 free                    All Month
“Visit our temporary exhibitions to see the work of women artists, including Hong Chun Zhang and Charlotte Street Foundation Fellows glyneisha, Cory Imig, and Kathy Liao.”