Celebrating Women’s History Month
At Centra we strive to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Communities we serve and in our workplace. Recognizing Women’s History Month supports this vision.
Women’s History Month began as a small celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978. A couple years later, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation which declared the week of March 8 to be National Women’s History Week.
After petitions from the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Public Law 100-9 in 1987. This expanded the celebration from a week to a month, creating what we now know as Women’s History Month!
Every year since has been centered around a specific theme. The theme for 2024 Women’s History Month is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” which highlights women throughout the country who push to eliminate bias and discrimination to promote a positive future.1
Did you know?
Loretta M. Burd served as Centra Credit Union’s Chief Executive Officer for 25 years! She’s regularly recognized for her contributions to Centra throughout her career and during her time as CEO. Our scholarship program and boardroom in our headquarters are even named in her honor! After retirement, she went on to serve on Centra’s Board of Directors for ten years.
Achievements
Here are some interesting achievements in women’s history that you might not know!
- Nancy W. Dickey, MD, was the first woman to be elected president of the American Medical Association (AMA) in 1998.2
- Elizabeth Blackwell, MD, was the first woman in the United States to be granted a medical degree in 1849.3
- Nora Stanton was the first female to become a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).4
- Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb became the United States’ first woman astronaut trainee in 1960.5
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg paved the way for the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. This gave woman the right to apply for credit cards and mortgages without a male co-signer.6
- Marie Stuart Edwards was an Indiana native who helped found the National League of Women Voters in February of 1920.7
Want to learn more?
Interested in learning more about Women’s History Month? You can find helpful information and facts here:
- National Women’s History Museum
- Women’s History Month
- National Women’s History Alliance
- Library of Congress
- National Archives
- Visit Indiana
Citations
1. 2024 WHM theme. National Women’s History Alliance. (2024, February 15). https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/2024-whm-theme/
2. 10 Trailblazing Women in Healthcare | Health Hive. (n.d.). Hive.rochesterregional.org. https://hive.rochesterregional.org/2021/03/history-of-women-in-healthcare
3. Weiner, S. (2020, March 3). Celebrating 10 women medical pioneers. AAMC. https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/celebrating-10-women-medical-pioneers
4. Nora Stanton. (n.d.). EngineerGirl. https://www.engineergirl.org/125418/Nora-Stanton
5. Cobb, Geraldyn M. | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. (n.d.). Www.okhistory.org. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=CO010
6. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Milestones and Their Impact on Financial Equality. (n.d.). The Balance. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.thebalance.com/ruth-bader-ginsburg-milestones-5093118#:~:text=Equal%20Credit%20Opportunity%20Act
7. Indiana Destination Development Corporation. (2023b, August 2). These 30 famous women from Indiana history have helped define the Hoosier state. Visit Indiana. https://www.visitindiana.com/blog/post/these-30-famous-women-from-indiana-history-have-helped-define-the-hoosier-state/