Women's History Month ends its 20th year

Throughout March, Bloomington has been commemorating the contributions of local women by celebrating the 20th annual Women's History Month.\nThe month's events were coordinated by the Commission on the Status of Women, which was created in 1973 to "ensure that women and men have equal opportunity to function fully and optimally as citizens of Bloomington, as equal participants in the economy, in politics and government, in education, in social development, in the system of justice, and in all other facets of life," according to the City Hall exhibit commemorating the month's events. The Commission, along with Bloomington's Community and Family Resources Department, has orchestrated Women's History Month every year for the last 20 years.\n"Our department acts as a support staff for the Commission on the Status of Women," said Craig Brenner, special projects coordinator for Community and Family Resources. Among the services provided by the group is an events calendar, available on the city's Web page www.bloomington.in.gov, detailing Women's History Month events.\n"Since the commission is a city organization, we assist in paying bills, publicizing events and other practical needs of theirs," Brenner said. \nThe Commission has been collecting data and statistics concerning women's economic, political and social standing in Bloomington and is planning to release a report about the status of women compared to men within the community sometime in the next few days.\nYet apart from their research responsibilities, the Commission has used the month to promote community events and recognize prominent Bloomington leaders. In honor of women's history, Gracia Valliant was honored with the Commission's 2005 Woman of the Year award at a March 9 luncheon. Valliant, a former Peace Corps volunteer, has been involved with Bloomington Developmental Learning Center and Habitat for Humanity and has also actively advocated special education reform.\n"I have known Gracia Valliant for many years and have long been impressed by her complete dedication to learning, education reform and to enriching the lives of others," said Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. "(Valliant's) hard work and hands-on approach with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Mujeres en Conexion have made Bloomington a better place to live." \nOther community organizations have followed that "hands-on" approach and used the month to highlight fund-raising events.\nMiddle Way House, Inc., an organization dedicated to ending violence in the lives of women and children, held a dance concert March 26 in honor of Women's History Month to raise money for Bloomington women who have been abused or are in need of community support. Middle Way House attempts to uphold its grassroots political approach to solving the problem of domestic disputes and violence by inviting the public to discuss their mission statement, according to the Middle Way House Web site..\n"Women come to us with a crisis, but also with strength and capacity which we try to help them realize," said Toby Strout, director of Middle Way House.\nThat strength is underscored by a proclamation issued by Mayor Kruzan, lying in a display case in City Hall commemorating March as Women's History Month. The document includes commentaries on women's historic nation-building contributions, leadership in progressive social change movements and notes the underappreciation of women by society at large.\n"Despite (their) contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued, in the literature, teaching, and study of American history," Kruzan wrote. "American women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Michael Beal at mdbeal@indiana.edu.