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<br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
<br /> WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
<br /> PROCLAMATION
<br /> WHEREAS, American women of every race, class, and background have shaped
<br /> our nation through their innovation, creativity, and leadership — successfully rewriting the
<br /> narrative for a nation that has not always recognized their contributions; and
<br /> WHEREAS, American women have played and continue to play vital economic,
<br /> cultural, and social roles in every sphere of the life of the nation — excelling in academics,
<br /> the arts, politics, medicine, sports, and beyond — while navigating challenges both seen
<br /> and unseen; and
<br /> WHEREAS, women have been at the forefront of every major progressive social
<br /> change movement, often advocating for justice when their own struggles were
<br /> overlooked, including the suffrage movement, the abolitionist movement, the industrial
<br /> labor movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and many more; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the courage of countless trailblazing American women has shattered
<br /> barriers and glass ceilings, inspired people regardless of gender, sparked groundbreaking
<br /> discoveries, and propelled America toward a more just and equitable society; and
<br /> WHEREAS, despite critical contributions, women's stories have too often been
<br /> marginalized in the teaching and retelling of history, making it our collective responsibility
<br /> to uplift and honor the women who have shaped our past and continue to shape our
<br /> future; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the 2026 national theme for Women's History Month — "Leading the
<br /> Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" — celebrates women who are
<br /> reimagining and rebuilding systems to ensure long-term sustainability across
<br /> environmental, economic, educational, and societal spheres, and it invites all
<br /> communities to recognize and support women's leadership in creating a future that works
<br /> for everyone; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to fostering True Community, which
<br /> Reverend Dr. Pauli Murray defined as "being based upon equality, mutuality, and
<br /> reciprocity," and will continue to elevate the dialogue on women's history and their
<br /> collective power in shaping a more just and equitable society;
<br /> NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Board of Commissioners of Orange County, North
<br /> Carolina, hereby proclaim March 2026 as "Women's History Month" and commend this
<br /> observance to Orange County residents, urging them to recognize the women in their
<br /> lives with appropriate programs, activities, and celebrations that reflect this year's theme
<br /> of leadership and sustainable change.
<br /> THIS THE 5th DAY OF MARCH, 2026.
<br /> Jean Hamilton, Chair
<br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners
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