DEB Newsletter
Volume 5
March 2021
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Women’s History Month.
The Future is Female.
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March is Women’s History Month, but how did we get here? It all began on March 8, 1910, at a conference of working women in Copenhagen, Denmark when the suggestion of International Women’s Day (IWD) was born. A year later, IWD evolved into what is now a regular acknowledgment of the contributions--and struggles--of women and girls from around the world.
In 1975, the United Nations recognized March 8 as IWD. In turn, a bipartisan effort was launched in the United States to celebrate women at the same time that a campaign for Title IX gathered steam. By 1987, Congress officially designated March as Women’s History Month.
Today, March celebrations of women and girls are commemorated with talks, festivities, and calls to action for policies and practices that treat women’s and girls’ rights as human rights, a landmark declaration by Hillary Clinton, then First Lady of the United States, at the 1995 Beijing Women’s Conference.
In this issue, we highlight the contributions of women and girls in forging a better tomorrow both at Sears and beyond.
Here are some resources for young people and adults:
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We Are Making a Difference: Student Spotlight |
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Sears has female leaders at all levels! These girls from Kenilworth Troop 101 are working toward their Silver Award by completing 50 hours of community service work. Here is a snapshot of how these young women are stepping up:
- Fundraising with handmade Kenilworth stationary and holiday ornaments
- Preparing holiday treat baskets for the New Trier Food Pantry
- Purchasing and wrapping holiday gifts for families in need
- Building a butterfly house
- Yarning a tree
- Establishing a Little Free Library for the Sears outdoor garden.
These girls rock!
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Women have served the United States Army since the Revolutionary War. Today more than 174,000 women serve in the Total Force. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduated its first class of women in 1980. The Joseph Sears School boasts not one, but FOUR Sears mothers that are both pioneering West Point graduates and Army veterans!
Featured clockwise from the top left, here are the inspiring backgrounds of these brave moms! Kelly Demers (‘90) was an academic All-American and soccer player at West Point. She served as a communications officer in Germany. Mindy Kelly (‘94) became a truck platoon officer and executive officer, ran an airfield, and served in the Bosnian Theater. Brigitte Nettesheim (‘95) attended the U.S. Army’s flight school, became an Army master fitness trainer and a finance officer. Donna Parent (‘94) played on the women’s basketball and lacrosse teams at West Point. She served as a signal platoon leader, deployed to Egypt for Operation Bright Star, and during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, working with the FBI to monitor airspace over the venues. Thank you for your service and brave leadership!
For more information on women leading in top Army roles, click here.
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“For young Black girls to see themselves in me, for them to get an opportunity to see what is possible is an absolute honor,” said Captain Remoshay Nelson, the first black female officer of the Thunderbirds, the air demonstration squadron of the United States Airforce. “My hope is that while I have been labeled a first, I won’t be the last because I want to show young girls what the possibilities are.”
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Photo credit: Press Release, March 17, 2021, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund |
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There were 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, mostly against women, in the past year.
https://www.aaldef.org/press-release/aaldef-statement-on-the-murder-of-six-asian-women-in-atlanta/
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We Are Remembering: Ruth Bader Ginsburg |
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We lost many heroes in 2020 - including cultural icon, “The Notorious RBG.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a lawyer and jurist who served on the Supreme Court from 1993 until her death in September 2020. She was the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the court (the first was Sandra Day O’Connor, who was appointed in 1981). Ginsburg was best known for her advocacy of gender equality and women’s rights. During this politically divisive time, it’s also important to note her close friendship with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who was as conservative as Ginsburg was liberal. The justices did not let their opposing views affect their friendship. The arguments between the two were described as spirited but fair. A great message to teach our children - we can disagree but still get along! |
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Madelyn R. (fourth grade) - Wax Museum, Cece G. (fourth grade) RBG Pumpkin |
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Follow the adventures of Marvel’s first female, Pakistani-American and Muslim superteen, Kamala Khan!
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Amanda N. Nguyen is a social entrepreneur, civil rights activist, and the CEO and founder of Rise, a non-governmental civil rights organization. She was involved in proposing and drafting the Sexual Assault Survivors' Rights Act, the 21st bill in modern U.S. history to pass unanimously through Congress. Based on this work, Nguyen was nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. More recently, she has been working to mobilize a nationwide response to the surging attacks on Asian Americans. You can follow her on Instagram @amandangocnguyen
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Mama Gloria, a retrospective about Chicagoan Gloria Allen, a legendary black transgender icon and activist. See films like this online at the Athena Film Festival
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Against the Tides invites you to journey along with marathon female swimmer and single mother Beth French as she battles her own health challenges to become the first to swim the world’s seven most dangerous sea channels in one year--all in honor of her autistic son.
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Living the Confidence Code: Real Girls. Real Stories. Real Confidence by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman. The books highlight extraordinary role models who are gritty and far from perfect. They remind us that with risk comes reward, but the lasting benefit is developing the confidence to never stop trying.
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Becoming: Young Readers Edition by Michelle Obama. A youth-friendly version of this classic memoir from the former First Lady.
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What Would She Do? by Kay Woodward. Covering 25 diverse women from early world leaders to modern-day heroes, this book is an inspiring and empowering illustrated guide for today's budding young feminists.
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The Daughters of Kobani: A Story of Rebellion, Courage and Justice by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. An inspiring story of how an all-female fighting force took on ISIS fighters in Syria in the name of women’s rights, eventually earning the support of the U.S. Special Operations Forces.
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North Shore Organizations that Empower Women and Children |
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YWCA Evanston North Shore
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The Junior League of Evanston-North Shore
With a nearly 100-year-old history on Chicago’s North Shore, the JLE-NS is committed to empowering and supporting underserved women, youth, and families. A recent clothing drive, coordinated by the Neighbors of Kenilworth, benefited Fitting Futures - a program dedicated to helping low-income women dress for success on upcoming job interviews. It is not too late to help out! Drop off interview-appropriate clothing and accessories at 320 Raleigh now through Sunday 3/21!
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In February 2019, members of the JSSPVA met with the Joseph Sears School Administration to encourage richer dialogues and augmented programming around diversity, equity, and belonging in our school community. In response to this request, the JSSPVA and the administration co-created the DEB committee in August 2019 with monthly meetings beginning in November 2019. The committee is made up of parents, faculty, administration, socio-emotional learning team leads, and a school board member representative. This unique collaboration amongst school and community stakeholders allows for diverse perspectives on the committee and in the schoolhouse. |
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The Joseph Sears School DEB Committee
Faculty/Staff Committee Members
Nancy Economou, Social Worker
Hilary Harvey, Social-Emotional Learning Facilitator
Jennifer Arra, Fourth-Grade Teacher
Bill Gordon, Vocal Music Teacher
Myra Love, Student Services
Laura Romisher, Eighth-Grade Math Teacher
Toula Sideris, Third-Grade Teacher
Parent Committee Members:
Kathy Ambrosino, Shawn Bard, Marjorie Bransfield, Tanya Brown, Sarah Czepiel, Analia Elizalde,
Steve Fifita, Allison Fitzgerald, Brittany Gottschall, Joe Guarino, Stephanie Joyce, Omar Khalaf,
Radhika Maheshwari, Anaga Maira, Sumita Mehta, Vanessa Menton, Steve Mugg,
Amisha Muthialu, Joanna Naftali, Kyra Nelson, Douw O'Kelly, Erin Paul
Kristin Pilant, Anne Ryan, Janet Scholl, Meredith Sullivan
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Interested in joining the DEB Committee? Please fill out the following form and a committee chairperson will reach out with more information. |
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The Joseph Sears School Diversity, Equity, Belonging Committee
542 Abbotsford Road, Kenilworth, IL, 60043
School Office: 847-256-5006
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