Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council

Tracing the Steps: African American Women During the Progressive Era in Grand Rapids
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Join Sophia Brewer, an academic librarian at Grand Rapids Community College, as she delves into her research on early African American women’s clubs and the remarkable women who led these organizations right here in Grand Rapids.
Special thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation for their support of this program.
Únase a Sophia Brewer, bibliotecaria académica en Grand Rapids Community College, mientras explora su investigación sobre los primeros clubes de mujeres afroamericanas y las extraordinarias mujeres que guiaron estas organizaciones aquí mismo en Grand Rapids.
Agradecimiento especial a la Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation por su apoyo a este programa.
Siguiendo los Pasos | Las Mujeres Afroamericanas Durante la Era Progresista en Grand Rapids
jueves, 23 de octubre de 2025, de 6:00 a 8:00 pm
Biblioteca Principal – 111 Library St NE

Tracing the Steps: African American Women During the Progressive Era in Grand Rapids
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Join Sophia Brewer, an academic librarian at Grand Rapids Community College, as she delves into her research on early African American women’s clubs and the remarkable women who led these organizations right here in Grand Rapids.
Special thanks to the Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation for their support of this program.

Únase a Sophia Brewer, bibliotecaria académica en Grand Rapids Community College, mientras explora su investigación sobre los primeros clubes de mujeres afroamericanas y las extraordinarias mujeres que guiaron estas organizaciones aquí mismo en Grand Rapids.
Agradecimiento especial a la Grand Rapids Public Library Foundation por su apoyo a este programa.

Rosie the Riveter: A Symbol for All American Women
2025-11-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Presented by Debbie Wake
Rosie the Riveter is the symbol for all the American women who worked in previously male-dominated jobs during World War II. From factories to farms, women stepped up and proved they could do it! Join historian Deb Wake as she explores how the Rosie name evolved, how these women were recruited, and the challenges they faced in both the workplace and society. We’ll also learned about what these amazing women accomplished and what became of these Rosies after the war ended.
Deb will share some of her personal collection of Rosie-related artifacts as well as images related to these wonderful, outstanding women.

Lifting as We Climb: Grand Rapids Study Club and the Legacy of Black Women Cultural Workers
2026-01-12 19:00 - 21:00
Presented by: Asia Horne Morton
Black women’s social clubs were more than places of fellowship–they were engines of education, activism, and cultural leadership. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the club movement spread across the country under the motto Lifting as We Climb, as Black women organized to advance racial justice, literacy, civic engagement, and community self-determination. From book circles to civic campaigns, these clubs laid the groundwork for future generations of community builders, educators, and cultural workers. Together, we’ll trace their legacy and reflect on what it means for Grand Rapids today.

History Detectives: "Give Mother the Vote: Images from the Women's Suffrage Movement"
2026-01-17

Lifting As We Climb: Grand Rapids Study Clubs and the Legacy of Black Women Cultural Workers
2026-02-12 19:00 - 21:00 | Grand Rapids Public Library, 111 Library NE, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Presented by Asia Horne-Morton, Grand Rapids Historical Society, and Free Alchemy Studio
Black women’s social clubs were more than places of fellowship—they were engines of education, activism, and cultural leadership. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the club movement spread across the country under the motto “Lifting as We Climb,” as Black women organized to advance racial justice, literacy, civic engagement, and community self-determination.
This talk will explore the history of the Grand Rapids Study Club within the broader movement of Black women’s organizing in America. From book circles to civic campaigns, these clubs laid the groundwork for future generations of community builders, educators, and cultural workers. Together, we’ll trace their legacy and reflect on what it means for Grand Rapids today.

Notorious RBG: Film & Conversation
2026-03-03 17:30 - 19:30 | GVSU, Pew Campus, Loosemore Auditorium, 301 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States
Join the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council (GGRWHC) and GVSU partners: Center for Women and Gender Equity, CLAS Flim and Visual Arts, Faculty Teaching and Learning Center, GVSU Women’s Commission, for an engaging evening celebrating the life and legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Location: Loosemore Auditorium, GVSU Pew Campus
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
5:30 PM – Reception with light refreshments
6:00 PM – Screening of RBG (the acclaimed documentary)
After the Film – Panel discussion facilitated by Navid Darvishzadeh, GVSU Professor of Film and Visual Arts
Explore RBG’s groundbreaking contributions to gender equality, law, and culture through film and conversation with local experts.

Helping Women Begin Again: The Grand Rapids Women's Resource Center
2026-03-18 15:30 - 17:00 | GVSU, Pew Campus, Loosemore Auditorium, 301 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI, 49504, United States

Grand Rapids Historical Society Banquet
2026-05-14 17:00 - 20:00

Historic Preservation is Women's Work
2026-05-14 19:00 - 21:00
Presented by Valerie Marvin
For more than 150 years, Michigan women have proudly preserved state and local history in libraries, museums, community centers, clubs, and public buildings. They’ve suffered horrific defeats–like the loss of old Grand Rapids City Hall–and won magnificent victories, including the preservation of Michigan’s Capitol. Join Valerie Mervin (Michigan State Capitol Director of Education and History) to learn about their work, legacies, and the tools they’ve left behind for their daughters–us!
