WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

GATEWAY CDC CELEBRATES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

BY PAT THORNTON

On March 19, 2022 Gateway CDC held its second virtual Women’s History Month program. With full participation of all Mayors representing the three municipalities the CDC serves, two premiere residents of our Media Arts Lab, and a community engagement mental health specialist, this year’s theme of Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope was brought to life by our guests. I had the pleasure of moderating the panel.

Mayors Petrella Robinson, Rocio-Treminio Lopez and Celina Benitez discussed how they have dealt with the COVID-19 Pandemic, and introduced supportive programs that have evolved since the advent of COVID-19; Sherri Lumpkin discussed how her program, Ragbaby Exchange uses doll making to inspire participants to embrace inner love for themselves, and build self-esteem; Geeta Raj discussed Global Sleepover’s partnership with the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, to create a print and digital version of the Junior Ranger Book about the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (HART) in Auburn, New York; and Darlene Wood of DSW and Associates discussed the importance of addressing mental health concerns, and the need for communities of color to destigmatize counseling services and stop shaming those who seek counseling services.

If viewers were expecting the usual “talking heads” pontificating and boasting about themselves, or repeating the usual comments you’ve heard repeatedly about living through this era, that is NOT what was delivered.

Viewers were able to hear the Mayors share their personal heart wrenching first-hand accounts of how they comported themselves and their programs to meet the new demands that came as a result of the pandemic. Mayor Treminio-Lopez’ shared an account of driving a truck all the way from a pantry in Baltimore to deliver food to her constituents, with the admission that she had never even driven a truck before that time. Mayor Robinson shared how she and Mayor Treminio-Lopez partnered with a Seafood Truck vendor, to provide free seafood to encourage their constituents to get their COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. And Mayor Benitez shared that she hired a social worker to make house visits to help seniors traverse the complexities of options for Medicare, Medicare Supplement and other medical programs, because people are harboring in their homes alone. Following the panel discussion with the CDC Mayors and the advice from the social workers, Sherri Lumpkin and Geeta Raj took everyone on a journey that enabled the audience to experience doll making and history from totally new perspectives.

This was a powerful impactful program. Our original intention was to provide “info”tainment, with the hope that everyone would leave the program with an understanding of what IS really important during this time – it’s all about showing compassion, love, and understanding. For so many people the consequences of COVID-19 are still upon them, and it’s hard to ask for help in a society that so often overlooks those who have fallen. This writer fervently hopes that viewers were inspired to listen more, say less, and remember to extend a hand to someone who is in need, because we can all remember the spiritual saying, “There but for the Grace of God go I.