March 8 marks International Women’s Day and the League of Women Voters’ 100th anniversary

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.—South Bend’s League of Women Voters is celebrating its 100th anniversary on March 8, which also happens to be International Women’s Day.

Two members of the League on Friday discussed the significance of the milestone and the international celebration.

“It’s a focus on a focal point, on the movement for equality for women worldwide. The first observation of its kind happened in 1909 but it was not until 1975 that the United Nations adopted it as a holiday,” League Board Member Nimbilasha Cushing said.

The League itself has used its platform to work for gender equality.

“We try to promote through citizen participation and events that involve women. One of the things we’ve done is we’ve developed a diversity inclusion book club that just started up last year and discussions like those in the community, inviting the community in for discussions to give women a place where their voices can be heard,” Cushing said.

The League of Women Voters has a list of events set to celebrate the anniversary, as well as the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. You can find a list of those by visiting their website.