In Celebration of Women History Month & Social Work Awareness Month we are honoring businesses that are currently paving the way for women in business. There will also be a moment of reflection granted for historian figures.

“Feminist, in my lifetime, has been the name given to me whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.”~Mahogany Mignon

“If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to forment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”~Abigail Adams, U.S. First Lady, 1776

Women’s History Month in the United States grew out of a weeklong celebration of women’s contributions to culture, history and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California, in 1978. Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a “Real Woman” essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa.

A few years later, the idea had caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week. The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year, passing a resolution establishing a national celebration. Six years later, the National Women’s History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the event to the entire month of March.

In 1776 Abigail Adams urges husband to John Adams” to remember the ladies”

In a letter dated March 31, 1776, Abigail Adams writes to her husband, John Adams, urging him and the other members of the Continental Congress not to forget about the nation’s women when fighting for America’s independence from Great Britain.

The future First Lady wrote in part, “I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.”

Nearly 150 years before the House of Representatives voted to pass the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote, Adams letter was a private first step in the fight for equal rights for women. Recognized and admired as a formidable woman in her own right, the union of Abigail and John Adams persists as a model of mutual respect and affection; they have since been referred to as “America’s first power couple.” Their correspondence of over 1,000 letters written between 1762 and 1801 remains in the Massachusetts Historical Society and continues to give historians a unique perspective on domestic and political life during the revolutionary era.

Abigail bore six children, of whom five survived. Abigail and John’s eldest son, John Quincy Adams, served as the sixth president of the United States. Only two women, Abigail Adams and Barbara Bush, have been both wives and mothers of American presidents.

The 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle; victory took decades of agitation and protest. Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution. Few early supporters lived to see final victory in 1920.

Beginning in the 1800s, women organized, petitioned, and picketed to win the right to vote, but it took them decades to accomplish their purpose. Between 1878, when the amendment was first introduced in Congress, and August 18, 1920, when it was ratified, champions of voting rights for women worked tirelessly, but strategies for achieving their goal varied. Some pursued a strategy of passing suffrage acts in each state—nine western states adopted woman suffrage legislation by 1912. Others challenged male-only voting laws in the courts. Militant suffragists used tactics such as parades, silent vigils, and hunger strikes. Often supporters met fierce resistance. Opponents heckled, jailed, and sometimes physically abused them.

By 1916, almost all of the major suffrage organizations were united behind the goal of a constitutional amendment. When New York adopted woman suffrage in 1917 and President Wilson changed his position to support an amendment in 1918, the political balance began to shift.

On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment, and 2 weeks later, the Senate followed. When Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment on August 18, 1920, the amendment passed its final hurdle of obtaining the agreement of three-fourths of the states. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the ratification on August 26, 1920, changing the face of the American electorate forever.

For more information, visit the National Archives’ Digital Classroom Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan:Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment

To coincide with Women’s History Month 2011, the White House issued a 50-year progress report on the status of women in the United States. It found that younger women are now more likely than their male counterparts to hold a college degree and that the number of men and women in the labor force has nearly equalized.

International Women’s Day, a global celebration of the economic, political and social achievements of women, took place for the first time on March 8, 1911. Many countries around the world celebrate the holiday with demonstrations, educational initiatives and customs such as presenting women with gifts and flowers. The United Nations has sponsored International Women’s Day since 1975. When adopting its resolution on the observance of International Women’s Day, the United Nations General Assembly cited the following reasons: “To recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women; and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.”

Comic book extraordinaire Terry Reece is the Founder, Chairman, President, and CEO of Reece Enterprises and is currently investing the energy to honor women, moms, and military females with his new and exciting comic series G.i.J.i M.O.M.

Mr. Terry Reece has a diverse background working in several management, sales, and marketing positions for a number of retail automotive industry supplier companies. As a certified Master Auto Technician for over 20 years, this CEO managed to expand his expertise by dabbling in positions as Service Manager, Store Manager and Lead Tech Specialist. His wife, Julia Reece, author of “Life on a Shoestring Budget” and CFO of Reece Enterprises has a very much-needed diverse and experienced background. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Julia is the daughter of the late Pastor William James Coleman and Julia Henrietta (Thomas) Coleman. Julia studied Computer Science at Wayne State University in Detroit, where she graduated in 1980 with a Bachelors of Arts degree.

Together the duo find time to maintain a supportive lifestyle by empowering each other and women today.

More about Terry Reece:
Terry Reece, aka “the Warrior” Super Hero and Founder/Chairman/CEO
Writer/Copywriter/Creator of The Closet Cove and the L.A.Z.E.R.U.S. project, and the “G.i.J.i.M.O.M.” Series Brand Reece Enterprises was founded in March of 1992, as a Vision of Connecting a diversified Group of The REECE FAMILY owned and operated Companies. The REECE ENTERPRISES Company is the Parent Company of all Reece Enterprises sub-Corporations, Divisions, and products, Copyrights, Patents, and Inventions.

Mission: The company was developed and designed to be the centerpiece to all Reece Family Companies. Its Purpose also is to provide a gateway to The Reece Family Members and Friends. The connection to network, communicate, shop, and share ideas. WE seek to utilize the very large network of Reece Family, Friends, and Business associates to create an easily accessible gateway to develop, enhance, and uplift life’s experiences of all who dare to share with each other. Lets re-circulate our wealth of economic resources and talents to help propel our future generations.

For more information visit Reece Enterprises

In honor of National Social Work Awareness Month, I’d like to say thank you to my fellow colleagues, who are in the business of changing lives, one person, one unit, one family at a time. Oftentimes we find ourselves overworked and underpaid when we determine our worth in dollars and cents. But in all actuality, we are priceless and our compensation intangible. What we do day in and day out; in season and out. The way that we consistently, and positively impact the lives of others is reward in itself. For we are a rare breed that services others, prioritizing the needs of others, oftentimes above our own personal needs or agenda. Daily we lay our lives aside to help promote wellness in the life of another. For today I remind you that this is not merely a career but a call from heaven, a divine appointment, and a willing vessel that merely responded, Here am I….send me! Your reward is on high! Be blessed.

Mellanie M. Penn-Jewell, MA. LLPC Clinical Therapist, Life Coach

Char Sloan mission as a curvy model is to be a body positive image for ladies worldwide; regardless of size, age, etc. She believes that women are beautiful in all shapes & sizes. Char possess the perfect plus size ingredient of confidence mixed with sophistication and is the recipe of a woman who would be considered a timeless beauty, an example of the Queens we’re suppose to be. In the near future, she plans to develop a fashionable full-figured clothing line that would be compared to the Chanel of plus size clothes. Currently, Char is preparing and practicing her skills by participating in local runway shows, and serving as promotional model for boutiques with plus size clothing. To view more information including photos & video visit: Char Sloan Online

O’kela Neveaux is a native Detroiter and has been recognized nationwide as a leading educational personality and weaving specialist. When she isn’t traveling to an on-site location to work with clients, instead, they may travel to sit in her chair, and receive her expertise on complementing their personal imagery and style. O’kelas interest in the beauty profession began in her early teen years, it was then, that she realized her natural talent to transform those who she encountered. Over the years O’kela has built quite the roster of inspired women as result of not only hair styling but her ability to mentor and speak life into the women around her. O’kela offers what she calls a “Realism Coaching Experience” to that of the aspiring entrepreneur, everyday friends and family members.

More About O’kela:
Okela’s background include working for a myriad of companies as a Consultant, Platform and Promotional Artist presenting in quality instructional videos, brochures, product testing and sampling. A host of this gems work has been featured on local and national magazines, flyer’s, posters, calendars and weave packaging. This multi–talented artist has done work on film productions, commercials, music videos and theater. Philanthropy efforts have been greatly appreciated behind the scenes, as she has volunteer her Image Consulting services to a variety of artist and agencies.

O’kela success, thus far, is certainly attributed to her strong work ethics and dedication to the Beauty Industry. She considers herself an activist for education in her field, which she explained, greatly influenced her decision to get her Instructors License in 2007. O’kela takes pride in remaining up to date in this ever changing industry. When asked about her practices to sustain her superior service and to remain in the front line of her craft, she replied “I find time to research the old and new styles and techniques regularly. This is how I keep myself marketable in this ever changing Industry, no job or client is to big or to small.”

Currently she balances life as a busy mom, Ambassador Spokesperson, Online Blogger, Freelance Stylist and Hairdresser for a host of clients at OnStyle Beauty Lounge in Farmington, MI. To schedule a class or a hair appointment call 248-476-4886. .

Are you a story waiting to be heard? Get featured in our “In The Media” Newsletter. Send your event flyer(s), press releases, special event news, media preview invitations, new or existing business endeavors, grand openings, red carpet events, community spotlights, rare stories…etc…to info@fomPRconnect.com and we will be sure to give you the spotlight.

BE A GUEST| SUBMIT ONLINE