TRANSCRIPT: Women of Central New York Advocate for Representation
Lucy Shaffer: Conversations surrounding National Women’s Month are centering on one key issue… representation. President of the National Women’s Security Organization, Ava Downey, says while progress has been made, gaps in visibility and leadership remain.
Ava Downey: I think if they all can come together in a similar way and celebrate women’s importance, because we don’t talk about it enough and we don’t talk about their impacts enough
Shaffer: Women of the community, such as Ahlam Islam, say representation also means creating safe spaces where women feel supported.
Ahlam Islam: Being a woman in Syracuse can be kind of, um, lonely, you know, like you really need to seek that community and be like be a little bit more intentional about that.
Shaffer: Supporters say increasing representation should extend beyond just one month. They say it’s about ensuring women across Central New York have the access and resources needed to lead. Reporting for N-C-C News I’m Lucy Shaffer.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – As Central New York recognizes National Women’s Month, local leaders say the focus is shifting from celebration to action.
Conversations surrounding National Women’s History Month are centered on one key issue: representation. President of the National Women’s Security Organization, Ava Downey, explains she decided to host the first-ever National Women’s History Month celebration to remind people of its importance.
“Well, we actually noticed that the university didn’t really do any large-scale events for Women’s History Month in the recent past,” Downey said. “We just wanted to do something that brought the community together.”
Downey says while progress has been made, gaps in visibility and leadership remain.
“I think if they (women leaders) all can come together in a similar way and celebrate women’s importance,” Downey said. “We don’t talk about it enough and we don’t talk about their impacts enough.”
Women of the community, such as Ahlam Islam, feel representation is more than the celebration of the month; it also means going beyond and creating safe spaces where women feel supported.
“Being a woman in Syracuse can be kind of lonely; you really need to seek that community and be a little bit more intentional,” Islam said.
Senior International Relations and Environmental Policy from Syracuse University, Sarah Schreiber, said it’s about ensuring women across the community have a sense of accomplishment.
“I think being a woman means being proud of everything that makes us women, and being proud to connect with other women,” Schreiber said.
Supporters say increasing representation should extend beyond just one month. Women of Central New York said advocating all year round is important for the community.