Let’s encourage young girls to believe they can make a difference in providing healing and promoting hope.

Editorial is the opinion of Morgan Hill Life

Every March, Americans celebrate National Women’s History Month. It is an opportunity to appreciate women’s varied, and often under-recognized, accomplishments throughout the past.

This year’s theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” serves as a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic. It recognizes the thousands of ways women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.

The month-long celebration helps us recognize through media, political speeches, and classroom learning activities the many contributions women have made across the centuries to improving the world. We can look at the actions they have taken in history and in contemporary society and see the significant contributions for a better world.

Countless females across the centuries have steered the course of America’s history with their steadfast determination. From reaching for the right to place their votes in the ballot box to breaking barriers in science, the business world, athletic fields and battlefields, women have stood resolute in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles to realize their full measure of success. Women’s History Month provides us with an occasion to recognize the contributions women have made. We can honor throughout the month of March those who blazed trails for women’s empowerment and equality.

International studies demonstrate that when the economy and political organization of a society change, women take the lead in helping the family adjust to new realities and challenges. Females are likely to be the prime initiator of outside assistance, and play an important role in facilitating or hindering changes in family life.

Here in South Valley, we can honor many of the women leaders who work to make the quality of life for our residents so much better. Many of these women will be honored by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s Celebrate gala that will be held April 3 at Guglielmo Winery.

They include Lesley Miles as the 2022 Woman of the Year for her work in architecture in creating sustainable buildings such as the downtown Granary; Peggy Martin as Volunteer of the Year, an investment advisor who volunteers much of her time and talent with a number of South Valley nonprofits; Felicia Gaudia as Educator of the Year, a Sobrato High School teacher dedicated to working toward equity in her own classes and the school community; Gelasia Tiwana, a Sobrato senior who loves exploring and broadening her exposure to the sciences, math and society.

The female history-makers of tomorrow are in our classrooms today. Let’s encourage young girls to believe they can make a difference in providing healing and promoting hope.