Women Who Inspire

I want to take a minute and reflect on Women’s History Month. As I went out on a google search to get examples of women in leadership, most of what came up dealt with women in the workforce which is interesting because until women were actually fully accepted in the workforce there were so many, many contributions that went unrecognized. When I say fully accepted I mean acceptance regardless of age, marital status, education, number of children, physical attractiveness, or family ties - all of which men, for the most part, did not experience as potential barriers. Even as women started joining economic driver professions like banking and medicine and sales they were often undervalued as either too “pushy” or their participation was characterized as a “hobby,” or a “jobette,” and they had to fit a profile that took into account their style and station. The real role for women was homemaker - bearing children, housekeeping, menu planning and cooking - being the infrastructure to support the American Dream of a house in the suburbs with a car in the garage that only the men could drive.

That was my mother’s experience. My mother was a home maker for our family of 10, but that was not her most valuable contribution. My mother was a writer. She wrote short stories and plays and poetry. A few of her pieces were published, and her play about Cain and Abel was performed and filmed and played on public television. Later in life, she started a business selling leather goods - some of which she made and other items on commission. My mother started a solar greenhouse association in St. Louis where with help from my engineer father, the members assisted each other in adding solar greenhouses to their homes - barn raising style. My mother was also the editor of their monthly newsletter. After a massive stroke moved her to Washington State for recovery services, my mother started a weekly newsletter for the recovery center’s members to keep in touch with each other.

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In Kansas City, celebrating this month means recognizing the literal and metaphorical foundations laid by women. Nelle Peters, one of the most prolific architects of the 20th century, designed nearly 1,000 buildings across the city. Her work serves as a standing monument to female leadership in a male-dominated industry.

The city’s history is also defined by the courage of women who fought for equity. Lucile Bluford, a legendary journalist at The Kansas City Call, spent 70 years as a crusader for civil rights, famously challenging the University of Missouri’s discriminatory admission policies. Similarly, the Woman’s City Club, founded in 1917, became a powerhouse for municipal reform, tackling issues from juvenile justice to public health at a time when women were still fighting for the right to vote.

Women’s History Month in Kansas City isn’t just about the past; it’s about acknowledging the women who are currently “Leading the Change”—ensuring that the next generation of Kansas City trailblazers is seen, heard, and supported.

In the context of Women’s History Month in Kansas City, it is impossible to overlook the contemporary leadership of Dr. Jennifer Collier (Ph.D.), the Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS). Her tenure is a historic milestone for the city, as she is the first woman to serve as permanent superintendent in the district’s 157-year history.

Last June, I got the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Collier to record a conversation with her and then Northeast News Editor-in-Chief Julia Williams, to learn about her journey to become Superintendent of a storied urban school district and the direction she will be providing for their journey. Watch for a more in-depth post to come later, but in the meantime, you can find it posted in the Women Speak Podcast Series hosted on the Northeast News website.

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March has been designated as Women’s History Month. The following month, April often features municipal elections. This year, election day is April 7, and absentee voting has started. One of the best ways you can honor women’s history is to start now to learn what’s on your ballot, make a plan to vote, and commit to carry through with it.

Your county’s Election Board can provide you with all the information you need.

KCEB.org - Kansas City voters (South of the river)

JCEBMO.org - Jackson County voters (Address not in KC)

voteclaycountymo.gov - Clay County Voters

SOS.MO.GOV - Missouri Secretary of State

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