|
4
<br /> performance artist, and activist, popularized this concept, arguing that rest is a direct challenge
<br /> to systems of oppression that demand constant productivity, especially from women. The Color
<br /> Me Bad event will occur on March 28, 2026.
<br /> Chief Civil Rights Officer, Paul Slack, reviewed the background information for the item.
<br /> Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn:
<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 our
<br /> nation through their innovation, creativity, and leadership—successfully rewriting the narrative for
<br /> a nation that has not always recognized their contributions; and
<br /> WHEREAS, American women have played and continue to play vital economic, cultural,
<br /> and social roles in every sphere of the life of the nation —excelling in academics, the arts, politics,
<br /> medicine, sports, and beyond —while navigating challenges both seen and unseen; and
<br /> WHEREAS, women have been at the forefront of every major progressive social change
<br /> movement, often advocating for justice when their own struggles were overlooked, including the
<br /> suffrage movement, the abolitionist movement, the industrial labor movement, the Civil Rights
<br /> Movement, and many more; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the courage of countless trailblazing American women has shattered barriers
<br /> and glass ceilings, inspired people regardless of gender, sparked groundbreaking discoveries,
<br /> 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 to uplift
<br /> and honor the women who have shaped our past and continue to shape our future; and
<br /> WHEREAS, the 2026 national theme for Women's History Month —"Leading the Change:
<br /> Women Shaping a Sustainable Future" — celebrates women who are reimagining and rebuilding
<br /> systems to ensure long-term sustainability across environmental, economic, educational, and
<br /> societal spheres, and it invites all communities to recognize and support women's leadership in
<br /> creating a future that works for everyone; and
<br /> WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to fostering True Community, which Reverend
<br /> Dr. Pauli Murray defined as "being based upon equality, mutuality, and reciprocity," and will
<br /> continue to elevate the dialogue on women's history and their collective power in shaping a more
<br /> 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 lives with
<br /> appropriate programs, activities, and celebrations that reflect this year's theme of leadership and
<br /> sustainable change.
<br /> THIS THE 5th DAY OF MARCH, 2026.
<br />
|