Philadelphia’s Centennial Celebration of Women’s Suffrage
I am a daughter of quite a tenacious broad. Also, I’ve raised a couple of pretty tenacious young chicks. I am absolutely so lucky to look around my life and realize I am surrounded by strong, incredible women. No offense, men- you’re pretty fantastic too, but you’ve not quite come through the adversity we’ve been faced with to get here- so give us a moment or two here. At work, at home, with friends, in the media, in politics, on stage—women amaze me.
When the Kimmel Cultural Campus shut down 17 months ago, we had just launched Seat at the Table, an interactive exhibit highlighting the current state of gender inequality in America on the centennial of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That’s right, it’s still not equal. The public exhibition is a physical reminder of the ongoing struggle by women since gaining the right to vote over 100 (now 101) years ago. Presented by Drexel University's Institute for Women's Health and Leadership, and located in the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ public plaza, the exhibition commemorates women's suffrage and asks "Where are we now?" It’s a pretty loaded question, huh?
I’ve been pretty inspired by some of the women who made this exhibit and celebration happen. In fact, Kimmel’s own CEO Anne Ewers worked with the organizers to bring this exhibit to our space. Anne, a female leader in a sea of men in our industry, has been particularly inspiring to me as a leader in the arts industry. For nearly 20 years, I’ve watched her tenacity and for the last 7 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with her in my time at Kimmel. As Anne steps away from her role leading this organization this year, I find this exhibit particularly poignant. This is an amazing celebration of what can be achieved when men aren’t afraid to lose their power, but instead ban together with women around lowering barriers to basic human rights, and around giving everyone a seat at the table.
Which is why I am beyond excited to honor the remarkable National Women’s Equality Day on August 26th, the 101st anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, with a Toast to Tenacity, an afternoon of music and inspiring speakers to commemorate women’s strength and hardships throughout history, as well as the progress that they’re making today and in the future. This year’s Toast to Tenacity will take place outdoors on South Broad Street in front of the Kimmel Cultural Campus, kicking off a four-day City of Sisterly Love Celebration involving Vision 2020’s Proud Partners, Allies and others.
While this celebration might be a year late, it has even more meaning for me as I look around my own table. It is a remarkable moment in history and an important reminder to both sexes about change, and progress, and a power dynamic that still exists. As I hold my own glass high to toast the tenacity around me, I will reflect on how far we’ve come, and how far we have yet to go.
I hope to see you there- I’ll save you a seat at the table. But to quote the great Shirley Chisolm, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table...bring a folding chair.”
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