Los Medanos College honored Women’s History Month with a lively event held in room 109 in LMC’s Student Union on March 11. Students and staff gathered to celebrate the past achievements of great women in history and held discussions of empowerment, gender inequality, and inspiration for the next generation of women to do great things.
“It’s about women as a whole and how we should celebrate being a woman and enjoy it,” said Joyce Ekemere, a Student Life ambassador who ran the event.
The event encouraged attendees to engage in various activities and conversations including a discussion panel held by Sarah Capperauld, a Student Life organizer and LMC student, where the panelists, Meryl Craft, Adrianna Simone, Shanyda Soe, Nancy Peters, Tanisha Maxwell and Tenisha Manohoran, shared powerful insights on personal experiences, gender discrimination and words of encouragement for young women.
Craft shared information about a nonprofit that she started after her retirement that helps women train to obtain jobs that “aren’t traditionally a woman’s job.”
“I saw that women were left behind,” Craft said, explaining why she started the nonprofit.
Peters emphasized the importance of the event and celebrating Women’s History Month, stating, “Women make up over 50% of the world’s population. This is a month where we stop and say ‘Look at what women have done.’”
She also encouraged people to do research and remind themselves of everything women have done.
Soe ended the discussion by saying “I hope the audience feels inspired to continue to break barriers.”
Another highlight of the event that guests at the event loved was the Kahoot trivia game where attendees teamed up with their table group to answer questions about influential women in history to see which group knew the most facts.
The table group with the most points won gift bags for their victory. The activity opened people up to new discussions with people they might not have known before and introduced many to female historical figures and insight.
The celebration also featured two beautiful piano performances by students, Serinitee Yap and Yanlin Chen. The performances filled the room with awe and inspiration and reminded everyone of women’s talents and their contributions to the arts. It was a nice sentiment that added to the conversations being held at the event.
Attendees of the event shared why they attended the event and why they believe it was an important event to have.
“People need to realize the impact that women have,” said Sean Gutierrez, a student attendee. “Women have always been at the forefront of human greatness.”
Maureen Willhoite, an LMC staff member who attended the event explained “I wanted to attend to support all the women on campus, my peers and coworkers. Myself too. I think it’s important for women to have a voice.”
Between activities at the event, attendees enjoyed free food including tacos, fajitas, cookies, brownies and water, while exploring school resources such as a clothing rack with free women’s clothing available for taking from the LMC Marketplace, and a book display curated by the LMC library with books that are relevant to Women and Women empowerment.
“Hopefully the books will spread awareness and promote education,” said Christina Goff, an LMC staff member who managed the library table booth.
The small details showcased at the event showed immense care for the attendees and the event. The displays educated more people on different outlets that LMC gives people, that they might not have known about beforehand.
With about 55 people who attended, the event was a lively, educational, and inspiring gathering that evoked mindful discussions on women’s issues while also reminding people of women’s achievements and what women can do. People left being further educated, inspired, a full stomach, and perhaps some new friends.
“Women’s History Month isn’t just about the past, it’s about how we continue to shape the future. Let’s take what we’ve turned today and turn it into action,” said Ekemere during her ending speech of the celebration.
