Dear John
Since 1975, the world at large has chosen to recognize this date (March 8) as International Women’s Day. Yet the actual history of this holiday goes back to 1909, when more than 15,000 women launched a demonstration on the streets of New York City. These courageous foremothers had an agenda that included the elimination of gender-based inequity through better working conditions, increased wages, and the recognition of the right to vote.
Today's observance acknowledges how far we have come, while also reminding us that the fight for justice is still far from over. According to the International Women’s Day organizing portal, the theme for 2022 is #BreakTheBias, intended to promote the adoption of a world free from gender-based discrimination. For more than 30 years, Migrant Clinicians Network has focused on leading by example, with women making up approximately 83 percent of our staff. Additionally, MCN has a lengthy history of courting a constituency committed to enhancing the health and well-being of women.
In other words, without the women behind the scenes and at the forefront, our work would not be possible. One such woman who has stepped forward to assist us in generating an even larger impact is renowned philanthropist and author Mackenzie Scott, who recently made the single-largest contribution in MCN’s history with an incredible gift of $5,000,000. Scott’s gift is an investment in creating a heritage of hope for the future—and not only for women, but for an entire society free to invest in what is critical that ensures the world continues to nurture the dreamers who were born to care.
Much like MacKenzie Scott, through your support of MCN, you are letting the world know about the importance of cultivating an ethic of caring. Thank you for helping our work reach countless individuals at the intersections of migration, vulnerability, and health, many of them women. On that note, we want to know: what women in your life helped establish this legacy? How can we honor them? And most importantly, what can we do to affirm the contributions of all women moving forward?
In gratitude,
Karen Mountain, MBA, MSN, RN
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