Events
Women’s History Month 2023

From lifting women’s contributions to driving conversations about issues faced by women in manufacturing, from raising awareness of Alabama’s childcare and equal pay gaps to supporting frontline women-serving organizations, Women’s Foundation of Alabama joined forces with hundreds of volunteers, donors, and supporters this March in celebration of Women’s History Month 2023.
As we reflect on the past 30 days, we hope you’ll join us in shaping change for the next 30 years. Here’s a recap of our most memorable #WHM moments.
Women’s Masterclass: Access & Allies with The Lab on Dexter | As part of our continued expansion strategy, our team kicked of Women’s History Month in Montgomery on March 1 with a network of changemakers. Traversing multiple locations across the downtown area, we discussed shifting the status quo in the Montgomery community and centering power of women across the state – engaging speakers, leaders and panelists like Alabama Supreme Court Justice Kelli Wise, Director of Alabama Office of Minority Affairs Stacia Robinson, Helena Duncan, President and CEO of Business Council Alabama Helena Duncan and more.
International Women’s Day & the “Why” Behind Giving Circles | International Women’s Day is a global opportunity to elevate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. On March 8, we paid homage by highlighting our Giving Circles – a strategy fueling women-led solutions and placing the power of philanthropy in the hands of the community. We spent the day commemorating the inaugural scholarship made possible by The Brilliant Black Girl Collective and celebrated the mission and achievements of our Morgan County Giving Circle, both funds housed at Women’s Foundation of Alabama.
Equal Pay Day | Women’s Foundation of Alabama was proud to have chaired efforts like Alabama’s Workforce & Wage Gap Task Force, which delivered formal policy recommendations to address women’s wage disparities in December 2022. The need for such a measure becomes glaring on Equal Pay Day – the date symbolizing how far into 2023 a woman must work to make as much as men were paid during the previous year. This year, that date fell on March 14. Alabama’s gender wage gap is one of the largest in the country, where women are paid only 67 cents for every dollar a man makes. On Equal Pay Day 2023, we shed light on key findings of the Workforce & Wage Gap Task Force report and our continued collaboration with Alabama lawmakers to move those recommendations forward.
Voices of Change: WFA Community Perspectives | In the spirit of lifting women’s voices, we asked champions within our community about their unique reasons for fighting on behalf of Alabama’s women and girls. Many came forward. Each fueled by unique passion. All invested in saving women’s lives. Check out testimonies from our 2023 Board Chair Dawn Helms Sharff (Partner, Bradley Law), as well as Board Members Judge Brooke Reid (Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Montgomery) and Mary Pat Lawrence (Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Protective Life).
Manufacture Alabama Catalyst Conference | On March 24 the Foundation traveled to Mobile, joining Manufacture Alabama’s first-ever Catalyst: A Women in Industry Conference. We spent the day with more than 300 industry professionals addressing prevalent issues facing women of Alabama’s manufacturing and industrial workforce. As part of the agenda, our very own Rachel Bunning, Vice President of External Affairs, facilitated a breakout session exploring the critical importance of “Creating a Female Support System”. Accelerating gender equity truly takes a village, so we appreciate every company present and their willingness to invest in institutional change for women.
Prosper: Let’s Connect | “If the U.S. Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963, why are we still having conversations about pay parity?” A compelling question our Vice President of Philanthropy & Learning, Zhaundra Jones, posed to attendees at Let’s Connect, hosted by Prosper, on March 27. The luncheon convened people and organizations across Central Alabama in support of building an inclusive economy. As presenters of the day, Women’s Foundation of Alabama engaged in dialogue about the revolutionary spirit of women’s movements, a fire that’s still necessary to improve circumstances for women today and future generations to come.
Women’s Issues in the Media | From childcare to gender pay disparity to the origins of Women’s History Month, women’s issues and stories took center stage throughout March 2023. Here’s a recap of some of the coverage; special thanks to CBS 42, WSFA 12, FOX 6, ABC 33/40, WVTM 13, AL.com, Birmingham Business Journal (Who’s Who In Non-Profits) and more for centering women’s voices.