The Board of Larimer County Commissioners proclaimed that March 2025 is Women's History Month in Larimer County at the Administrative Matters meeting on February 25.

Women's History Month provides an opportunity to honor the achievements of women throughout history and remember the work of those who fought for equal rights, representation, and opportunities for women. Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally paid tribute to Women's History Month by wearing a special brooch of suffragist Alice Paul. “We stand on the shoulders of a lot of folks in this country who worked hard to protect women’s rights to free speech and assembly,” said Shadduck-McNally.

Commissioner Kristin Stephens echoed appreciation for the courageous women who "paved the way" despite violent opposition. Stephens added "I think it’s important for us to look back and reflect on history and make sure that we don’t make the same mistakes again. We’re advocating for equality for everyone, and this is a great reminder that we need to do that." 

"We are living in very uncertain times regarding issues related to equality, fundamental rights, and certainly women’s rights,” said Larimer County Commissioner John Kefalas. “This proclamation speaks well to why we honor Women’s History Month."  

The full text of the proclamation is below:

A PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH MARCH 2025

WHEREAS, the Women’s History Month recognition began in one town in 1978 when a Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women celebrated “Women’s History Week” in Santa Rosa, California. The week was chosen to include International Women’s Day, March 8; and

WHEREAS, the movement spread to other communities, and in 1980 women’s groups and historians asked the federal government for recognition. President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the week of March 8, 1980, to be National Women’s History Week; and

WHEREAS, the recognition was renewed by later presidents until 1987, when Congress designated March as “Women’s History Month;” and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, women have fought tirelessly to further our democracy's reach and help with progress towards a more perfect Union. Through protest and activism, generations of women have advocated for the values and character of our nation; and

WHEREAS, generations of women have fought to give meaning to the idea that we are all created equal and widen the circle of opportunity for all; and  

WHEREAS, women of every race, class, socioeconomic, and ethnic background have served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social and legislative change movement and have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways, including as trailblazers in science, the arts, education, business, social services, nonprofits and government at all levels; and

WHEREAS, women have played and continue to play critical economic, cultural, and social roles in every sphere of the life of the nation by constituting a significant portion of the workforce working inside and outside of the home; and

WHEREAS, women have played a unique role throughout the history of the nation by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force of the nation; and

WHEREAS, women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our nation and continue to fill a majority of roles in these fields; and

WHEREAS, women have served our country courageously in military conflicts; and

WHEREAS, women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, the sustainable future movement, the peace movement, and other social movements, which create a more fair and just society for all.  

WHEREAS, despite all of the aforementioned contributions, the recognized and unrecognized role of women in history has been largely diminished, excluded, and erased, both in record as well as history that is taught.

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved, the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners does hereby proclaim that March 2025 is designated as “Women’s History Month” and invites all to visit www.WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the generations of women who have left an enduring legacy on our nation’s history.

Dated this 25th day of February, 2025

                            THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF LARIMER COUNTY
                            Kristin Stephens, Chair