Throughout March, Millikan’s Female Leadership Academy (FLA) club has been giving shoutouts to different female staff members on the daily intercom announcements, they also hosted a rally during lunch on March 28th to promote women owned businesses and helped showcase events for Women’s History Month.
Third year FLA member, Michelle Morris, a junior in PEACE said, “It helps people be more educated on the things women do. The club gives girls a place to feel like they belong and gives us a sense of sisterhood, we all relate to each other.”
Over 50 years ago, in 1978, the week of March 8 was named Women’s History Month in the county of Santa Rosa, CA.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter made the week into a National Holiday, for the whole country to celebrate. Seven years later Congress passed Public Law 100-9, stating that Women’s History Week would become a month-long holiday throughout March.
Every year since then, every president has issued a series of annual proclamations, making sure the holiday continues its annual return. The National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for the month and this year’s theme is “Moving Forward Together.” The theme focuses on the women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership to our future generations.
At Millikan the Female Leadership Academy has created a community of female students who learn leadership and role model skills.
First year member Ava Jairegui, a junior in MBA said, “I have a sister, and wanted to be a role model to her. I also just wanted to learn about female history and learn how to be a good leader.”
Many other high schools in LBUSD like Poly, Wilson, and Cabrillo, also have FLA clubs, teaching girls how to be strong and confident leaders in a safe space.
Across all areas of life, women provide important perspectives, skills, and strengths as, leaders in business, politics, science, arts, literature, and sports. Women are also essential caregivers, who nurture families and are the mothers that raise our future leaders. Their contributions to life are invaluable, enriching our world in countless ways and making it a more caring and compassionate place. Way before the first National Women’s History Week in 1978, women have been mothers, leaders, and idols who deserved to be honored.
