International Women's Day - March 8th
"I raise up my voice - not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard . . . We cannot succeed when half of us are held back." - Malala Yousafzai
For International Women's Day, today on March 8th, I want to spread awareness of amazing women and organizations who raise their voices for our community of Laurel, MS, and Jones County.
For example, the Junior Arts League of Laurel and the Young Women's Christian Organization are women-run organizations creating change for inclusion and education in Laurel. I have enjoyed being a part of the YWCO and the amazing women who work to build community. We are super lucky that the director of the YWCO, Brandy Thornton, also works with us at the paper shop!
But there are so many women who do such special work...here are a few I would like to take a moment to recognize. Each woman below is committed to a mission that either sets up our children for a brighter future or supports and helps feed families in need...two of the most important missions in any community.
Crystal Phillips founded The Social Club in 2020. Her vision and mission is to provide inclusive play for children as well as education of sensory needs and disabilities for parents. Guiding her are the values of inclusion, acceptance, compassion, and education as she advocates for the special needs population. The Social Club and Crystal have made such a positive awareness and acceptance in our community. And I am so proud to have them right across the street from us at the paper shop.
Hope Staples, with her husband, founded the Glory House Global Outreach. The mission fueling the project is to share Christ with the community and the world. Hope and the many volunteers at the Glory House do an incredible job of orchestrating and promoting community service projects, worship, teaching, and providing food and personal care through the Bread of Life Center food pantry.
Elizabeth Harris serves as the Board Chair of Nurture Our Future. This nonprofit funds the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for the Laurel and Jones County area. They also have the Brain Bus that goes around the area to promote learning through play. Elizabeth and the other board members focus on ensuring children are set up for success with out-of-school learning opportunities and books so they can thrive from their very beginning.
We are so lucky to have these incredible women and women-run organizations changing our community for the better! And trust me when I say that these are not the only women making a difference in our community...there are so many more!
Take time this month and especially on Wednesday, March 8th to say thank you to all the women who work tirelessly to make a difference!
We have some special cards in the shop for Women's Day. Email me if you want to learn more: efanslow@beamazingpaperco.com.
