Celebrating International Women's Day
The Adult Education Program staff, participants, and alumni celebrated International Women's Day, a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.
The celebration, hosted at the Adelante Mujeres building in downtown Forest Grove, included an emotive cultural program, highlighting the essence and cultural roots of Latina women and their contribution to Latinx culture in the Northwest.
The team at Adelante Mujeres was very proud to invite Marycarmen Gaona, a community writer and a former participant in the Adult Education Program. As part of the event, everyone gathered to launch her book ‘Mis Versos Para el Universo’ (My Verses for the Universe). The book was a result of the literary composition workshop hosted by Adelante Mujeres years ago in partnership with Pacific University.
In addition, we were able to enjoy the art exhibition of Alejandra González, a participant in the Family Learning Project at Adelante Mujeres, "Enjoy the arts and heal your heart". Her paintings have influences of Mexican culture.
The celebration was illuminated with the wisdom and cultural power of the Meochica-Tolteca, a group of pre-hispanic dancers from the Northwest. For the dancers, dancing is more than an art — it is a lifestyle and a reunion between ancestral cultures and our essence, like a glue that binds us to our roots.
This year, International Women's Day occurred during an unstable international situation as we see the devastating effects of the war in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people that are living through the cruel invasion of their national territory.
The Adult Education Program celebrated this day, highlighting our cultural heritage to this country and hoping for a peaceful world, with more equality and a better future where women can rise up, grow, and express themselves artistically.
Written by Yasi Lemus Isla, Adult Education Program Manager at Adelante Mujeres.