“Women: Builders of Communities and Dreams” is the theme for Women’s History Month activities in March at the Laboratory.
A contest of posters designed by school children from Española, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Pojoaque highlights the scheduled activities, said Leisa Davenhall of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (C-CSE), chair of the Women’s Diversity Working Group. Students who are home-schooled as well as children of Laboratory employees also can submit posters, which will be judged by a committee of employees from the Women’s Diversity Working Group.
The Women’s Diversity Working Group, the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (HR-OEOD), and the Diversity Affirmative Action Board sponsor Women’s History Month at the Laboratory.
Other scheduled events include a presentation at 1:15 p.m. March 20 on the Lab’s new enhanced 9-1-1 system, which is part of the consolidated dispatch center between the Laboratory and Los Alamos County. Laboratory staff members Farkhondeh Mehrvarz and Cynthia Hayes of the Space and Site Management Office (SSMO), and Marla Brooks and Beverly Ramsey of the Emergency Operations Office (EOO) will talk about the enhanced 9-1-1 system. The presentation is in the Materials Science Laboratory Auditorium at TA-3.
A panel discussion scheduled for March 27 in the Otowi Building side rooms at Technical Area 3 and three Diversity Cinema screenings also are scheduled for Women’s History Month at the Lab.
Winning posters should illustrate the theme of Women’s History Month, said Davenhall. They also will be judged for creativity and artistic quality, she added. Posters should be on 18-inch by 24-inch poster board, and any medium is allowed.
Winning posters in four grade categories will be hung in the second floor lobby of the Otowi Building March 20 through 22. The posters are scheduled to be displayed in Mesa Public Library in downtown Los Alamos in April. Winning student artists will be recognized at a ceremony at 4 p.m., April 11 in Mesa Public Library. They will receive a certificate and prizes and speak briefly about their poster.
The panel discussion on March 27 focuses on volunteer organizations whose mission is to improve the quality of life for women. Representatives from these organizations will discuss the services they offer and how employees can volunteer their time. In addition, representatives from Many Mothers, Habitat for Humanity/Woman Build, Big Brothers/Big Sisters/Lunch Buddies, Mana del Norte, Casa Mesita, Impact Personal Safety and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will have information tables set up near the Otowi side rooms to hand out information and recruit volunteers, said Davenhall. The panel discussion begins at 11 a.m. and is open to the Laboratory work force.
The Diversity Cinemas scheduled are
"1942- 1955 War Work, Housework and Growing Discontent,” noon – 1 p.m., March 16;
"1955-1977 New Attitudes Force Dramatic Changes," 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m., March 23;
"The XY Factor: History of the Wife," noon – 1 p.m., March 30.
All screenings are in the Materials Science Laboratory Auditorium at TA-3 and free popcorn and sodas will be available.
The first two films are segments of “Women in American Life,” a five-part documentary on the experiences and contributions of women in American history from the Civil War through the 1970s.
The third film looks at the role of the wife and how it has changed over time. From Eve to Queen Victoria, “The XY Factor: History of the Wife” examines the stories of famous and little-known women to see how the role of the wife changed in different eras and cultures.
Diversity Cinema provides an occasional lunchtime opportunity to learn about heroes and historical figures from all cultures and backgrounds, as well as other diversity-related topics. This diversity education and awareness effort supports the Laboratory's Strategic Goal H, Agile Work force.
For more information about Women’s History Month, contact Davenhall at 5-2943 or Danny Valdez of HR-OEOD at 5-7215.
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