In honor of women’s history month, three women of the Riverdale Y highlight the accomplishments of women in History, Business and Law.
Sabrina Noel, Registrar; Arienny De Jesus, Assistant Director of Kids Space; and Adriana Rexhepi, HR Coordinator, share women whose stories have made an impact on their lives.
And then add yours to the mix: post on Facebook or Instagram about #WomenWhoInspire and tag us so we can see what you share! Find us on Facebook and Instagram. Can’t wait to be inspired by you!
Sabrina Noel is inspired by Tish James
As we celebrate Women’s History Month this March, it is important to recognize the accomplishments of women who have made significant contributions to society. One woman who stands out to me in this regard is Tish James, the Attorney General of New York.
Tish James has been a trailblazer throughout her career, breaking barriers and shattering glass ceilings in the field of law and politics. She has been a champion for women’s rights, fighting for gender equality, reproductive rights, and workplace fairness
In addition to her work on sexual harassment and assault, James has also been a strong advocate for women’s economic empowerment. She has fought to close the gender pay gap and promote equal pay for women, as well as advocating for policies that support working mothers, such as paid family leave and affordable child care. James has also worked to protect the rights of domestic workers, many of whom are women, by cracking down on wage theft and other forms of exploitation.
Arienny De Jesus Flores is inspired by Emma Grede
Women’s History Month is a time to honor women for their strength, confidence, resilience, knowledge, independence, and so much more. As we take this month as a time of recognition, we as a society should make it a priority to acknowledge women for all their accomplishments each and everyday as we have come so far over the years. As a woman of color, I myself have come a long way for many reasons, but one in particular that stands out to me the most is the ability to be able to work and set career goals for myself.
Emma Grede, cofounder and CEO of Good American, SKIMS, and Safely opened up about her career advice and leadership skills. “As women, I think we would do well to be a little more selfish. For a lot of women, early in your career, there is a window where you can really focus on yourself and your career goals and I wish more women would take advantage of that timing…we are wired to nurture and over-compromise, so being a little more focused on what best serves ourselves is not a bad thing…It’s amazing to see women breaking through the glass ceiling and taking on leadership roles in so many different fields.”
Even though we are not all the way there yet, women have accomplished so much over the years and one thing I take most pride in is the ability to be an independent working young woman. This month I want all of you, us women, to remember we are strong, independent, and hard working leaders.
Adriana Rexhepi is inspired by Hannah Szenes
Hannah Szenes was a Jewish poet, writer, and resistance fighter who lived during World War II. She was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1921, and later emigrated to Palestine, where she joined a group of Jewish parachutists and volunteered to serve in the British Army.
In 1944, Hannah was dropped behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia with a small group of resistance fighters on a mission to rescue Jewish refugees in Hungary. Unfortunately, Hannah was caught by Hungarian authorities and imprisoned, where she was interrogated, tortured, and eventually executed by a firing squad at the age of 23.
Hannah’s life and legacy are a testament to the strength, courage, and resilience of women throughout history who have fought against oppression and injustice. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize the many women like Hannah who have made significant contributions to society despite facing discrimination, violence, and adversity.
Who inspires you?
Share your own reflection on Facebook or Instagram about #WomenWhoInspire and tag us so we can see what you share! Find us on Facebook and Instagram. Can’t wait to be inspired by you!
