Women's History Month

(1928–2014) – A poet, memoirist and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou is best known for her groundbreaking autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which was one of the first books to depict the struggles of black women in America. She was also a powerful speaker, working with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and became the first African American woman to write and recite a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration (Bill Clinton, 1993).

(b. 1934) – A journalist, activist, and key leader of the second-wave feminist movement, Gloria Steinem co-founded Ms. Magazine in 1971, providing a platform for women’s voices in media. She played a major role in advocating for women’s rights, reproductive freedom and gender equality, working closely with organizations like the National Women’s Political Caucus and the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) movement.

(b. 1930) – A labor leader and civil rights activist, Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) alongside César Chávez, advocating for the rights of farmworkers. She played a key role in organizing strikes and negotiating better working conditions, coining the iconic phrase “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”). Huerta has spent her life fighting for labor rights, women's empowerment and social justice, and she continues to mentor activists through the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

(1870–1952) – An Italian physician and educator, Maria Montessori revolutionized early childhood education with the Montessori method, which emphasizes hands-on, self-directed learning. Her innovative approach has influenced schools worldwide, promoting independence, creativity and lifelong curiosity in students.

1940–2011) – A Kenyan environmentalist and political activist, Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, which empowered women to plant trees to combat deforestation and poverty. In 2004, she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

(1924–2005) – A trailblazing politician, Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968 and later became the first woman and African American to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972. She was a fierce advocate for racial and gender equality, education reform and social justice.

(b. 1997) – A Pakistani education activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ right to education. She has since become a global advocate, co-founding the Malala Fund to promote education for girls worldwide.

(1884–1962) – The longest-serving First Lady of the United States (1933–1945), Eleanor Roosevelt transformed the role into one of advocacy and activism. She championed civil rights, women’s rights and humanitarian causes, and played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a delegate to the United Nations.

(b. 1964) – A lawyer, author and former First Lady of the United States (2009–2017), Michelle Obama focused on education, health and military family initiatives. She launched Let’s Move! to combat childhood obesity, Reach Higher to promote higher education, and Becoming, her memoir, became a global bestseller, inspiring millions.

1906–1992) – A pioneering computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral, Grace Hopper developed the first compiler for a programming language, helping to lay the foundation for modern computing. She was instrumental in the creation of COBOL, one of the first high-level programming languages.

1918–2020) – A brilliant mathematician, Katherine Johnson played a crucial role at NASA, calculating trajectories for early space missions, including John Glenn’s orbit of Earth. Her contributions, highlighted in the movie Hidden Figures, helped break racial and gender barriers in STEM.

(1860–1935) – A social reformer and activist, Jane Addams co-founded Hull House in Chicago, providing education, healthcare and social services to immigrants and the poor. She was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (1931) for her work in social justice and peace advocacy.