March is Women’s History Month.
Here, in New Mexico, we have a whole host of amazing women working on amazing projects, research and perpetuating change every day. Women’s History Month not only looks to celebrate herstory but also recognizes the continuous hard work of women whose actions create social change and move toward gender equality.
Women in New Mexico have done some pretty spectacular and groundbreaking work between last year’s and this year’s International Women’s Day.
In the past year, the University of New Mexico has appointed its first female president, Garnett S. Stokes. Deb Haaland, a New Mexico native, is running for Congress and may become the first Native American woman in Congress. Olivia Gatwood, a 26-year-old poet from Albuquerque, published her book entitled, “New American Best Friend.”
Ivonne Orozco, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipient and Spanish teacher at the Public Academy for Performing Arts, won 2018 New Mexico Teacher of the Year Award. Mercedes Agogino received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering for her career and ongoing support of other women pursuing STEM careers. Willow Shields is a young actress and feminist from Albuquerque who is working on a photograph series entitled “Dear Social Media” that empowers women.
Now, some of these women are social activists, but many of them are ordinary women doing extraordinary things in their everyday life. These women empower their community by being teachers, poets, politicians, actresses, students, scientists and activists. These women work with what they have to make a positive impact on the world.
Gatwood is best known for her slam poetry. She often speaks up about her experience with sexism and the of challenges growing up. “New American Best Friend” takes a humorous and honest approach on adolescence as a female.
Orozco is a UNM alum and recently had the opportunity to attend the State of the Union Address as a guest of Sen. Martin Heinrich. She helps her students understand immigration and vouches for DACA recipients. Orozco has been teaching for four years and supports her students in both their learning and personal development.
Haaland graduated from the UNM School of Law and chaired the state’s Democratic Party from 2015 through 2017. She is an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo.
New Mexico’s outstanding women set the precedent for the year to come. All of these courageous women and many others demonstrate what there is to celebrate today.
Women’s History Month shows us where we came from, and these women are making the path for where we are going.
Megan Holmen is a culture and news reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be contacted at culture@dailylobo.com, news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @megan_holmen.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
