Historic Partnership Coalition Announced as Closeout to Women’s History Month 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On March 28, the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation welcomed 35 organizations committed to uplifting American women’s history and empowering women and girls as the Foundation’s founding cohort of National Partners. Together, the Foundation and its National Partners – which represent more than three million women across the world – will celebrate the contributions of women to American democracy through the establishment of the first memorial on the National Mall dedicated to American women’s history.
“As we prepare to honor the 250th year of American democracy in 2026, our partners know it is more urgent than ever that the commemorative works in our nation’s capital fully reflect the richness of the American story,” said Anna Laymon, Executive Director of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation. “Women’s accomplishments have long been overlooked in our federal monuments and memorials, but by working together with our partners we will ensure that the role women played in shaping our country is finally part of the historical narrative on the National Mall. We are honored to have this distinguished coalition of partners joining us in this work, and we look forward to welcoming more and more champions to this project.”
“The National Council of Negro Women was founded by suffragist, activist, and educator Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and we are proud to partner with the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation to uplift the ideals of freedom, justice, and opportunity catalyzed by Dr. Bethune’s life and legacy through a permanent memorial on the National Mall. Working together, we will build a monument that lifts all women out of the footnotes of history and inspires a new generation to continue Dr. Bethune’s march towards equality for all,” said Shavon Arline-Bradley, President and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women.
Added Melanie Schild, CEO of the Association of Junior Leagues International: “A life well lived is one that leaves your community better than you found it, and this monument will pay tribute to every American woman who, in her own way, did a world of good. The Junior League is proud to support the Women’s Suffrage National Monument and we encourage women across the country to get excited, get involved, and get ready for monumental change.”
Laymon concluded: “This transformative project will make a difference both today – through its message that women’s contributions matter – and for generations to come. But, we can’t do it alone. And we don’t want to do it alone. We encourage organizations and individuals across the Nation to join us in this historic and critically important work. Together, we will make history.”
The 35 organizations joining the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation today as National Partners are:
- National Council of Negro Women
- Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum
- National Archives Records Administration
- Daughters of the American Revolution
- Association of Junior Leagues International
- Library of Congress
- Association of African American Museums
- National Women’s Hall of Fame
- Kennedy Center
- Military Women’s Memorial
- National Women’s History Alliance
- Federation of State Humanities Councils
- National Women’s History Museum
- American Association of State and Local History
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Association of Black Women Historians
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Workhouse Arts Center
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
- Representation Project
- Destination DC
- A Tour of Her Own
- Alice Paul Institute
- Brookgreen Gardens
- National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House
- Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media
- Harriet Tubman Home
- Justice Bell Foundation
- Monticello
- Lucy Burns Museum
- Made By US
- National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA)
- Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation
- National Sculpture Society
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CONTACTS:
Bernadine Stallings, NCNW, bstallings@ncnw.org
Renee Smith, NCNW, rscott@ncnw.org
Ashante Corey-Bey, NCNW, acoreybey@ncnw.org