Governor Proclaims Women's History Month

WHEREAS, North Carolina is the proud home to a diverse community of women who comprise 51 percent of our state’s population and are dedicated to eliminating discrimination and bias within our communities and institutions statewide; and

WHEREAS, since 1963, the North Carolina Council for Women has worked to advance and protect the rights of women, provide a voice of influence on issues impacting women, and celebrate women's achievements and leadership throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, today the Council continues to provide leadership on many issues facing women and their families, including health and wellness, violence against women, education, and employment; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 national theme for Women's History Month is, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion,” recognizing women in every community who have devoted their lives to embracing everyone in the common quest for freedom and opportunity; and

WHEREAS, we honor and pay tribute to the many women, both past and present, who have shaped North Carolina by breaking barriers and paving the way for future leaders, including NC Department of Administration Secretary Pamela Brewington Cashwell, a member of Governor Cooper’s Cabinet and the first American Indian woman to serve in such a capacity in the state’s history; Kristi Jones, Governor Cooper’s Chief of Staff and the first African American woman to serve in that leadership role; Dr. Anne Firor Scott, a historian specializing in women of the South who was appointed by Governor Terry Sanford as the inaugural chair of the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women, now called the Council for Women; and Brigadier General Clara Adams-Ender (Ret), a participant in the Greensboro sit-ins who, in 1996, was named one of the 350 women who changed the world by Working Women magazine; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina joins in honoring the legacy of women of every race, class, and ethnic background who changed the world by contributing to the economic, cultural, and social development of our state in countless recorded and unrecorded ways;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim March, 2024, as “WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens