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On Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, the Women’s Leadership Center (WLC) at the University of Saint Joseph held “Voices of Women in Connecticut Leadership: A Celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage.” The event, which brought together women from across the state – including Secretary of the State Denise Merrill – featured presentations that delved into the history of the women’s suffrage movement, followed by a panel discussion that focused on voting rights in the present day.
The evening began with Tracey Wilson, West Hartford’s Town Historian and a retired history teacher from the town’s public schools. Offering attendees insight into the Connecticut women who participated in the national women’s suffrage movement, Wilson helped provide context for the evening’s event.
Brittney Yancy, assistant professor of Humanities and Special Collections Curriculum Coordinator at Goodwin University, spoke next. Yancy highlighted the critical contributions that women of color made to the movement, many of which have gone unrecognized throughout history.
The Women’s Leadership Center was proud to welcome Secretary of the State Denise Merrill as the keynote speaker. Throughout her career, Secretary Merrill has worked to improve election participation, vote tallying accuracy, and election day accountability and integrity. During her address, she shared her thoughts about the momentous centennial anniversary of the movement and the work currently being done in the state.
The evening concluded with a panel discussion, moderated by Molly Griffin, assistant director of Government Affairs at The Hartford. USJ first-year student Aya Cruz ’23, a member of the Obama Foundation Leadership Corps, joined Wilson, Yancy, and Secretary Merrill to discuss the importance of voting as a young adult and share her perspective on topics in today’s political landscape.
“It was an honor to welcome such knowledgeable and esteemed Connecticut women for this celebration of the centennial anniversary of the women’s suffrage movement,” said Melanie Sinche, NCC, executive director of the WLC. “Between the in-depth presentations and the insightful perspectives offered during the panel, it was an educational and impactful evening for all who attended.”
For more about the Women’s Leadership Center, click here.
To learn more about the suffrage movement, attend the next WLC event on women’s suffrage, “Pathways to Leadership: The Legacy of Suffrage and the League of Women Voters in Connecticut,” taking place on Wednesday, March 24, 2020, at 5:30 p.m. on the University of Saint Joseph campus. Register here.