Celebrating Women’s History Month [AROUND TOWN WITH PHIL]

Events celebrating Women’s History Month on March 14 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum feature young creators and performers from the region.

The special evening runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and includes a film screening, podcast listening stations and Q&A with podcast creators, a music video featuring a new anthem for the Women’s Rights Movement, and a spoken word contest.

Admission is free as part of “AHA!” (Art, History & Architecture), New Bedford's monthly downtown cultural night. The Whaling Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in New Bedford, Mass. Details about the evening can be viewed at www.whalingmuseum.org.

At listening stations set up for the evening, visitors will be able to hear episodes of Her Works do Follow, a podcast created by students from YWCA Girls Exclusive at Keith Middle School in New Bedford. In 1889, “Her Works Do Follow Her” was inscribed on a tablet at Howard University dedicated to Martha Bailey Briggs, an influential educator, and abolitionist. Through their podcast, the students are examining profiles of women such as Briggs, who are featured in "Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast," and reflecting on what it means to be a woman in New Bedford in the past, present, and future. Visitors can meet and talk with creators about their experiences creating a podcast and learning about women's history.

“Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast” explores the historical impact of women from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds who have shaped their communities, the nation, and the world.

The Museum will screen the short film The Girl That Lit the World beginning at 5 p.m. Jarynette Gonzalez directed, scored and produced the short film about a young woman overcoming her fears and taking a chance to pursue her dream of becoming a rapper. An aspiring music producer and songwriter herself, Jarynette was born and raised in New Bedford. Her film debuted at the Lunafest Southcoast film festival in New Bedford in January 2019.

At 6 p.m. the Museum will screen the music video Taking Back the Power, a new anthem for the Women’s Rights Movement created by YAP! and Big Picture Anthems and featuring six talented artists from around the country. The Youth Ambassador Program (YAP!) is a partnership between the National Park Service and Third Eye Youth Empowerment. Big Picture Anthems creates dynamic media outreach campaigns that spread awareness for social issues of all kinds around the country.

Immediately following Taking Back the Power, young people ages 12 to 25 years will light up the night with brilliant words illuminating the lives of historic women of the SouthCoast during the “Lighting the Way Spoken Word Contest,” running from about 6:10 p.m. through 8 p.m. Performers will compete for prizes in three age categories: 12-14, 15-18, and 19-25. A panel of judges will consider relevance, creativity, length, and originality when awarding prizes. The contest is presented by “Lighting the Way: Historic Women of the SouthCoast” in partnership with the Bristol Community College Women’s Center, and the YWCA.