The year 2020 marked the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed women the right to vote. In honor of this important milestone in our nation’s history, the Board of Commissioners established the Celebration of Women’s Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee.
Throughout 2020, the committee invited Oakland County residents to learn more about the history of women's suffrage through a variety of exciting programming and events.
The members of the committee included Marcia Gershenson, Chair; Angela Powell, Democratic Member; and former Commissioner Tom Kuhn, Republican Member.
Programming & Events
"I Voted!" Sticker Contest - Winners Announced
Oakland County's 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage "I Voted!" Sticker Contest received more than 600 entries from middle and high school students from across the county!
One winner from grades 6-8 and another from grades 9-12 were selected to have their designs printed as ‘I Voted!’ stickers, which were distributed to voters at precincts throughout the Oakland County in 2020. The winners also received $1,000 courtesy of Cornerstone Community Financial Credit Union.
The contest winners were chosen by Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Lisa Brown and Oakland Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Wanda Cook-Robinson. Judging was based on creativity, artistic skill, execution and interpretation of the theme of “The 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage.”
To view the winning designs, check out the links or photo gallery below. All photos are courtesy of Derek Cookson Photography.
1st Place Winners
6-8th Grade Category: Charlisa Penzak, Birmingham Covington School (6th grade).
9-12th Grade Category: Penelope Blanchard, Walled Lake Western High School (9th grade).
Honorable Mentions
6-8th Grade Category: Karina Morfin-Munoz, Hart Middle School (6th grade); Morgan McKimmy, Royal Oak Middle School (7th grade); Valeria Jurado, West Middle School (8th grade); Mariah Cobb, Oak Park Preparatory Academy (7th grade); Ava Tarach, Oxford Middle School (7th grade).
9-12th Grade Category: Isabella Brown, Bloomfield Hills High School (10th grade); Lily Fallarme, Lake Orion High School (11th grade); Samantha Hollatz, Clarkston Junior High School (9th grade); Meghan Banes, Holly High School (12th grade); Sami Saigh, International Academy West (10th grade).
Celebration Ceremony - June 14
On June 14th, the Celebration of Women’s Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee hosted a ceremony to kick off a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Women's Suffrage.
The event included remarks from Board Chairman David T. Woodward, Board Vice Chairwoman Marcia Gershenson, League of Women Voters representative Geri Rinschler, Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, State Senator Ruth Johnson, State Representative Brenda Carter, County Commissioner Gwen Markham, Oakland County Clerk Lisa Brown and State Representative Mari Manoogian.
As part of the kickoff event, the committee displayed the 19th Amendment Victory Flag, which hung on the West Wing Extension of the Oakland County Courthouse Building from June 14-21.
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Constitution Day Curriculum - September 17
The Celebration of Women's Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee partnered with Oakland Schools to help educators lead exciting and educational programming for Constitution Day on September 17th in honor of the 100th anniversary of Women's Suffrage. Experts from Oakland Schools have compiled a number of high-quality lesson plans, which were created by trusted and reliable public and private organizations, that focus on Women's Suffrage and the 19th Amendment, which guaranteed women the right to vote.
With origins dating back to 1940, Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. In 2004, Congress passed a law requiring federally funded educational institutions to teach students about the Constitution every year on or around September 17th. The U.S. Department of Education does not mandate or prescribe particular curricula or lesson plans.
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Patriot Week Event - September 28
The Celebration of Women's Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee and the Patriot Week Foundation hosted an event on Saturday, September 28th at Hoffman Farms Winery. This family-friendly event featured games, hayrides, food and more!
Patriot Week was co-founded by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren and his then 10 year old daughter Leah Warren in 2009. Patriot Week begins on September 11th, honoring the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives in 2001, and ends on September 17th, Constitution Day. Its mission is to renew the American spirit by focusing on education to revive appreciation and understanding of American history.
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Iron Jawed Angels Film Screening - October 14
The Celebration of Women's Suffrage Ad Hoc Committee, in partnership with the League of Women Voters Oakland Area, hosted a free screening of the film Iron Jawed Angels at Emagine Royal Oak Theatre. The event was so popular that it sold out.
Iron Jawed Angels (2004) is a film about the American women's suffrage movement during the 1910s. The film follows political activists Alice Paul (Hilary Swank) and Lucy Burns (Frances O'Connor) as they use peaceful and effective strategies to revolutionize the American feminist movement.
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Special Speaking Series w/Michelle Duster - February 10 & 11, 2020
The Board of Commissioners partnered with Oakland University and Oakland Community College to host a speaking series on African American Women and the Women's Suffrage Movement by award-winning author, speaker and educator Michelle Duster. Ms. Duster is the great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, who was a prominent African American journalist, abolitionist and feminist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Thursdays at the Museum Presents: "Suffragette Tour" - June 11 & 18, 2020
The Board of Commissioners partnered with the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) to host virtual art tours highlighting the women's suffrage movement.
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