In recognition of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017, Salem Academy and College, Home Moravian Church, the Unity Women’s Desk of the Moravian Church, and Group 42 of the Women’s Fund are hosting “Be Bold for Change,” a conference celebrating women from down the street to around the world. Doors open at noon on March 8 at Salem College’s Fine Arts Center and in the Student Center for registrants’ check-in for the 1:00 – 9:00 pm event.

Open to women and men of all ages, the event will include the showing of excerpts of the PBS special “Half the Sky,” followed by a discussion led by Dr. Phil McKinley. Workshops will offer opportunities to explore personal and business finance for women, women’s health issues, and human trafficking issues. After dinner there will be an optional Communion service, displays of local agencies serving the needs of women, and a panel of women speakers will address their personal challenges in overcoming adversity.

Register here for the International Women’s Day Celebration A donation of at least $15.00 is requested to cover the cost of dinner. If you don’t plan to have dinner, a $5 donation is requested. 

Schedule of Events: Click here for a printable copy of the program.

Noon-1:00 PM—Registration and check-in North Entrance to the Fine Arts Center and the lower level of the Student Center

1:00 – 2:30 PM – Showing of excerpts of the PBS documentary  Half the Sky, followed by discussion led by Dr. Phil McKinley, Emeritus Associate Professor at Duke University—in Huber Theater in lower level of Student Center

2:45-3:45 PM—Workshop Options 

1)  “Human Trafficking” led by Dr. Elizabeth Jeter, High Point University                                                                      

2)  “The Importance of Networking” led by Leslie Mabe Garner, Marketing Coordinator at Hatch Early Learning

4:00 -5:00 PM—Workshop Options

1) “Personal and Business Finance for Women” led by Charles Forrest, Director of “Gaining Control Program”  at Sunnyside Ministry                                                                      

2) “Health Issues of Women” led by Dr. Linn Parsons, retired OB-Gyn doctor.

5:00-6:30 PM—Dinner  

Food will be served in the Refectory and then participants are encouraged to take the elevator to lower level where they are      encouraged to sit at tables with other participants (preferably some they do not know) and to participate in discussion of the questions found on the table tents at each table

6:30-7:15—Holy Communion at Home Moravian Church Participants are invited to join the regular Lenten Communion Service, being held in the Sanctuary of Home Moravian  Church

7:30-9:00 PM—Speaker Panel—FAC—Shirley Recital Hall 

Three speakers using the theme of “Overcoming Adversity” 

Introductions by Dr. D.E. Lorraine Sterritt   

• Irasema Rivas-Rangel—Student at Salem College
• Denise Terry–Coordinator of the Circles  at Green Street United Methodist Church, part of the Shalom Project
• Mary Haglund–Entrepreneur and Owner of “Mary’s, Of Course” and Founder of “Mary’s Mavens”

6:30 – 9:30 –Displays of Forsyth County agencies serving women will be found in the hallway outside Shirley Recital Hall. 

Participants are invited to view the displays before and after the 7:30 program and learn how they can become involved with these agencies:

• Cancer Services, Inc.
• Crisis Control
• Dress for Success
• Experiment in Self-Reliance
• Family Services, Inc.
• Forsyth Jail and Prison Ministry
• Habitat for Humanity
• On Wings of a Dove
• Read W-S (formerly Augustine Project for Literacy)
• The Shepherd’s Center of Winston-Salem
• Smart Start of Forsyth County
• Sunnyside Ministry
• Unity Women’s Desk of the Moravian Church.

Origins of International Women’s Day 

March 8 was first declared “National Women’s Day” by the US Congress in 1911. In 1975, during International Women’s Year, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day. The Day is traditionally marked with a message from the Secretary-General.

The purpose of the Day is to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms requires the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security. For the women of the world, the Day’s symbolism has a wider meaning: it is an occasion to review how far they have come in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is also an opportunity to unite, network, and mobilize for meaningful change (www.internationalwomensday.org). The world-wide theme for the 2017 celebration is # Be Bold for Change.

We are pleased that the Maya Angelou Women’s Health and Wellness Center and several downtown businesses will honor women in our community with purple lighting and other features, and we hope others will join in “going purple” to commemorate this important day. We hope each participant in the Day’s activities will be wearing purple. If you were unaware of this tradition, please take one of our purple ribbons and wear it with pride throughout the day.