Back in 1980, a group of five women in Santa Rosa, California - Molly Murphy MacGregor, Mary Ruthsdotter, Maria Cuevas, Paula Hammett and Bette Morgan - got together to pool their talents to see if they could increase public awareness of the important role played by women in our country's history.
At the time, women were virtually absent from American history books - less than 3% of the content was devoted to women, with the remainder devoted exclusively to the accomplishments of men.
Young American girls had few role models beyond a few actresses, vacuous cover girls, and Barbie Dolls. Not just young women, but boys and most adults also assumed that women had never done much of anything important.
Appalled at the situation, and determined to change it, the group of five founded the National Women's History Project (NWHP), and began to lobby Congress and the White House about the need to celebrate and recognize, on an annual basis, the true role played by women in American history.
As a result of their tireless efforts, that determined little group of women convinced Washington to officially designate the week of March 8th as "International Women's Day". Then in 1987 they led a successful second campaign to have the entire month of March declared National Women's History Month.
Today, with a full-time staff and many dedicated volunteers across the country, the NWHP is the only clearinghouse in the country that provides information and training in multicultural women's history.
NWHP is helping to eliminate residual sexism and correct and balance the historical record for educators at all levels, national and community organizations, and parents and people everywhere who want to expand their understanding of women's true contributions to U. S. history.
The list of accomplishments of women throughout the history of America is revelatory for many of us who were educated before the NWHP's influence began to change attitudes and text books. You can click here to view the list (a PDF file) of hundreds of truly remarkable women, and their notable accomplishments, who helped weave the fabric of American society throughout the past 200 or more years.
And now, Women's History Month celebrates its 30th anniversary in March 2010, clearly a tribute to the five women from a quiet California town who bravely tackled the status quo. Their extraordinary grassroots movement to "write women back into history" has significantly changed and improved conditions by bringing the truth to light.
At Novus, where people overcome the darkness of addiction, we delight in their incredible relief as the light of recovery shines into their lives. It takes courage when people decide to escape the trap of drugs and alcohol. At Novus Medical Detox Center, we are proud that we can help and wanted to share one of their success stories.
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Student:
(Methadone)
"Novus has helped me in a way that I thought was impossible. My stay was very comfortable and time flew. The food was top notch and the company and counselors around me even better. The nurses were very caring and supportive. Everything was top notch, saving your life is worth the money.
I realized before I came to Novus that I was in need of a change. Being in my early twenties I needed to get this right the first time. There's too much at stake for everyone. The medical weaning off the opiate oxycodone was enough for me with a little fight. If I would've needed more care they would've helped with open arms. Remember everything in this life that is worth fighting for isn't easy. Even the days after detox it's a lifelong fight to remember why you came to Novus. I came here a young man wanting change, and I left a man that knew his way. Life isn't easy, nothing is, but sobriety only makes things better. My only recommendation is to come with the will to want to change and to say no matter what happens you'll leave here a better and changed person. Thank you for reading my story. Best of luck to all of you and me." |
