Celebrate women and sing it with me now…Baby, how you feelin’ …. Feelin good as hell ….
LIZZO, my love, feelin good as hell is my anthem for this post … sharing ways to celebrate the women of our past and the women of today. Checking out the grocery store the other day, I heard her words being sung by a tiny voice. I was delighted to see a sweet little black girl, maybe 5 or 6, rocking out this verse like she was on stage! LIZZO’s body positive, lady-supporting, black girl magic is affecting generations y’all.
Here are some ways you can celebrate Women’s History Month at All Souls, in Tulsa, or at home. What else should be on this list? How do you lift up the women in your life?
Women & ART
As a collector, admirer, and one who is deeply stirred by works of art … I have to start here. Tulsa has a lot to offer when it comes to celebrating female artists.
Stop in the Art for the Soul Gallery (room 207) when you are at All Souls. Artist Jill Pinkerton’s works, Vibrancy & Drama. Jill believes painting is storytelling, not unlike the ballet – a flowing journey full of vivid color and drama.
Women Who Changed Art big reveal is on February 28. Bridget Quinn, author of Broad Strokes: 15 Women Who Made Art and Made History, will join Philbrook curators to discuss the impact of women artists throughout history and unveil new additions to Philbrook’s collection.
Go see Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art at Gilcrease Museum. Specifically the works portraying black women and the lithograph work of Elizabeth Catlett titled Prissy. If you want a sneak peek, here is what State Rep. Regina Goodwin has to say about the collection, https://youtu.be/8VD6kw1EEGw
Check out the first show in 2020 at 108 Contemporary, Abstraction, opening February 28. Featuring two female artists, Susan R. Michael and Sarah Atlee’s work repurposes fabrics to blend a myriad of textiles, creating intricate quilt pieces.
WooHoo Women!
Our Social Justice Speaks program has women at the forefront in March. Most Sundays, at 10 & 11 a.m., SJS highlights a different discussion in our journey to improve our community and our world.
*March 1: A Way Home Tulsa with Rhene Ritter discussing how homelessness is being addressed in Tulsa.
*March 8: Jacqueline Blocker will discuss her work with Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform.
*March 22: Tifina Cowan with DVIS will discuss their work regarding Domestic Violence Intervention.
All the Women of All Souls
The Women of All Souls has a great line up for the rest of the church year. Celebrate women by dancing at So you think you can’t dance on March 4. We’ll clear the tables after dinner and turn Emerson Hall into a dance studio!
WAS is also hosting Celebrate the Divine Feminine, Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. Invite your daughters and granddaughters! Different stations will focus on relaxation, self-care, creativity, important women and goddesses throughout history, and a communal art project. Join us for powerful day and feel free to wear your Goddess attire! This event is for all ages and for all who identify as female.
All Souls Day Alliance (our longest-standing group originally formed as the Women’s Alliance) lifted up the centennial of the women’s suffrage movement last month. They recommend keeping up with the League of Women Voters for events throughout the year, including the Women’s Suffrage Luncheon on March 10. Learn more about Day Alliance from Anita Larsen’s post, Day Alliance: Almost 100 Years of Love and Service.
On March 18 at 6:30 p.m., All Souls LGTBQ+ is hosting an exclusive, private screening of The Sound of Identity featuring the first transgender woman, Lucia Lucas, performing an opera lead in the U.S. at the PAC. Join our LGBTQ+ community and filmmakers to watch this celebration of Lucia as we honor Women’s History Month and lift up Transgender Visibility.
Take Action
Join All Souls Reproductive Justice Team
Join other All Souls members as Reproductive Justice Champions and determine exactly what role you can play in keeping free from State and Federal control of women’s reproductive health decisions. Email for more info reprojustice@allsoulschurch.org and check out Barbara Bannon’s latest post, Reproductive Rights are Civil and Economic Rights.
OU Tulsa has great opportunities to have fun and learn from other women. Check out their Feminist Trivia on March 11, the discussion Contraception: The Movement of Equity on March 14, and the Women in Leadership Panel on March 28.
Celebrate women and girls!
All Souls will celebrate Women’s History Month every Sunday in our three services. I can’t write this post without honoring our female ministers, Rev. Barbara Prose and Mariela Pérez-Simons. They bring such joy, vibrancy, and passion to our church and ministry. I am grateful for their authenticity and leadership. I’m thrilled to celebrate Mariela at her Ordination on April 25 at All Souls.
As I’m finishing out this post, I’m flooded by emotion thinking of the women who have paved the way, like my momma Sherry. She was one of four women who were the first in the Marine’s to complete Jungle Combat Training. I get my inner-badass and courage from her. Thank you mom.
You tell me ways to celebrate.
Even better, I challenge you to think of some of the women and girls in your life that inspire you. Tell those women and girls why they are important to you. That may be one of the most simple and impactful ways we can celebrate Women’s History Month together.
Bonita James is the Director of Communications for All Souls and editor of beyondbelief.online. She is passionate about telling the stories of the church through the people who make it all happen and loves to celebrate women.
Cover Photo: Poster art created by Image: Kate Deciccio, Jessica Sabogal, Jennifer Maravillas respectively, submitted for Amplifier’s open call for protest art.