Draft:Women's Day USA

Women’s Day USA (WDUSA) is a non-partisan, educational organization dedicated to raising the awareness of women’s achievements and their struggles for equality by educating the public on the cultural, social and economic diversity of women’s contributions through establishing and promoting observation and recognition of March 8 as International Women’s Day. WDUSA was founded by Polish immigrant, Beata Poźniak, and spotlights the “international” aspect of IWD to emphasize the extraordinary contributions of immigrant women in America. OBSERWATOR

Background
The original International Women’s Day had its beginnings in 1910 at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark. At that meeting over 100 women from 17 countries voted to establish International Women’s Day as an annual event. Since 1913 IWD celebrations have been held every year on March 8 in many countries around the world.

However, it was not until 1994 that Beata Pozniak, working with Congresswoman Maxine Waters, introduced the first bill in the history of the US Congress to officially recognize March 8 as International Women’s Day in the United States. IWD in America has since become widely celebrated every year.

The First Recorded Bill in US Congress Acknowledging International Women’s Day in America
“Causes: Beata Pozniak is trying to get the same kind of recognition for International Women’s Day here as she remembers from her childhood in Poland.”

Arriving in Los Angeles in the late 1980’s, Pozniak was struck by the fact that there was such little awareness of International Women’s Day in America. She started a small committee to promote the idea of celebrating the holiday that was so prominent throughout Europe. The committee’s activities included the organization of annual International Women’s Day celebrations, the creation and distribution of educational materials, outreach to corporations, schools, cultural institutions, and other non-profit organizations such as Women in Film and the Commission on the Status of Women, as well as efforts toward putting the holiday on the official calendar.

Pozniak worked with many politicians including Mayor Bradley of Los Angeles, Governor Wilson of California, Senator Feinstein and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters for political recognition of IWD. In 1994, at Beata’s suggestion, Congresswoman Waters introduced the first bill in the history of the U.S. Congress for national recognition of the holiday (H.J. Res. 316) designating March 8th as “International Women’s Day.” LA Times spotlighted “Beata Pozniak: Taking Up the Banner for Women Everywhere.”

Women’s Day USA Celebrations
Honoring exceptional women who have made a positive and lasting contribution to society by virtue of their achievements in various fields, including the arts, science, sports and politics. Events featured poetry, literature, music and film and have provided a valuable public platform for women to share their stories, to connect with one another, and to take action toward achieving gender equality. Women of all ages from 11 to 104 have been honored. Letters of support by Senator Barbara Boxer and First Lady Hillary Clinton were presented. Feminist attorney, Gloria Allred, spoke at a WDUSA International Women’s Day celebration: "“May I say as to Beata Pozniak a very unusual woman who I have known for many years. Beata is a person who researched the role of Marina Oswald for JFK the film. She played Marina Oswald. She has personally researched each and every woman who was on the program tonight and selected her for her special contribution either to women's rights or because she is a hero in some other way. And so, she is not only a wonderful actor, she is also a terrific producer. And someone who understands her duty as a woman, to give back and that is what each of us had a duty to do. The same way Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton gave back, it took 72 years for thousands of women to organize, to fight, to win the right to vote in this country. And we still do not have the passage of The Equal Rights amendment. Even since 1920 we have been trying to win the addition of the Equal Rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution. We still have not won that battle. But Beata knows it is not enough to be a successful actor, it is not enough to be a successful producer, it is important to also recognize her duty as a woman, to give back to other women, to value other women, and to improve the status of other women. And I am proud of each one of you for coming tonight and standing for women, to improve their condition in life and it's my pleasure to introduce Beata Pozniak, one of my personal heroes'."Among the honorees and presenters were Gloria Allred, Stevie Wonder, Betty Friedan, Irene Opdyke, Stefania Podgorska, Allison Anders, Illeana Douglas, Diane Lane