CASSANDRA

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WOMEN LEADING THE WAY

Celebrating International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) grew from efforts in the early 20th century to promote women’s rights, especially suffrage. Fast forward to today, International Women’s Day recognizes the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women and takes action against gender inequality around the world. However, although inequalities like discrimination and pay gaps still shockingly exist, International Women's Day increases awareness of these issues and provides a platform for people to get involved with creating change. Celebrated during Women's History Month in the U.S., this global recognition allows us to collectively discover, uplift, and praise women for their contributions.

Image of the Imiloa Collective logo over an image of cloth rolls

IMILOA COLLECTIVE

Imiloa Collective is a women-led social, creative enterprise founded by the entrepreneur and board member of The Community Cloth - Priya Ramkissoon. Helping to build and enrich the skillsets of creatives, other women entrepreneurs, and underserved communities across Africa, the U.K., and the U.S., Priya works to extend their products’ distribution and supports sustainable income opportunities. In highlighting the importance of inherent creativity, Imiloa also engages with children of all ages through their educational programs and craft workshops to infuse cross-cultural exchanges, connections, and cultural understanding to create awareness for the need to nurture, sustain and promote traditional handmade craft, talent and creative processes.

Text quote over a navy background, “I feel most people celebrate Women's Day in my country/state as more of a personal celebration and appreciation for the women in our lives.”

— Micah, 16, IN (Cassandra Collective)

Image of the Period.org logo over a red background

PERIOD.ORG

Gen Z activist, entrepreneur and author Nadya Okamoto has been a leading force in dismantling damaging stigmas around periods, all whilst being a student at Harvard University. As a teen, she started her own nonprofit called PERIOD, after witnessing the harsh reality of period poverty, the inability to afford period products due to lack of access or financial resources. What began as a period product drop-off to support the local homeless shelter in her community, turned into a global youth-powered nonprofit fighting to end period poverty altogether. Under Nadya’s leadership as Executive Director for five years, PERIOD addressed over 1.5 million periods and registered over 800 campus chapters in all 50 states and 50 other countries.In early 2020, Nadya also co-founded August, a lifestyle brand aiming to "re-imagine and redefine the period experience to be powerful and dignified.

Text quote over a navy background, “Over the last 100 years, women's rights have increased a lot, and I think having a day dedicated to that movement is cool.”

— Donovan, 18, OH (Cassandra Collective)

    Image of the Girls Write Now over a white background

    GIRLS WRITE NOW

    Over the past 25 years, Maya Nussbaum has grown Girls Write Now into one of the nation’s leading institutions creating change at the intersection of gender, race, age, and poverty. In addition to being the first writing and mentoring organization of its kind, Girls Write Now continually ranks among the top programs nationwide for driving social-emotional growth for youth. Under Maya’s stewardship, the nationally award-winning nonprofit has mentored the next generation of writers and leaders to impact businesses across industries, shape culture, and change the conversation.