TEXAS, USA — Women’s History Month started out as Women’s Week in 1981. Congress later declared it a month-long celebration in 1987.
The goal of Women’s History Month is to take time to reflect on the past, present and future achievements of women across the United States.
Alex Terrell Russell is a former Abilene City Council candidate and a member of Very Good Ideas, which she says is one of the only women-led start-up organizations in Abilene, created to provide support to working women.
Russell and other women felt there was a lack of accessibility and support for women working and raising a family.
“In a town of 120,000 plus people, multiple higher-level institutions, medical centers, I mean the workforce in this community is 50% female," Russell said. "The fact that we were not given any resources to those women to help at all you know, I think there’s a lot of good partners in this community, but as far as figuring it out, we were on our own.”
Women across West Texas are continuing to uplift one another throughout March and beyond.
Mimi Clark, Association of Asian-American Women president, lives in San Angelo and has a special message to future women leaders.
“Go for it! Don’t look back. Keep moving forward, be confident in yourself. Always keep educating yourself. I think that’s very important to be constantly growing your mind. Reading books, joining cool Zooms," Clark said.
Terrell said, “There are so many women who love you and would get to know you and there’s a space for you anywhere you want to create it.”