Celebrating Women’s History Month

Published on March 01, 2025

By Jeniffer Viscarra, Commissioner

Women’s History Month, celebrated every March, invites us to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of women who paved a better path for the rest of us. Without them, we would not have the highest number of women governors in U.S. history (13), the first woman mayor in Miami-Dade County, a majority-woman commission in Sunny Isles Beach, or many of the rights that we take for granted.

Some of women’s advances are so unremarkable today that we don’t realize they were once battles. For example, it wasn’t until 1971 that women could no longer be denied private employment just because they had pre-schooled children (Phillips v. Martin Marietta Corporation). In 1974, women were finally allowed to access credit without a male co-signer, thus expanding financial independence (Fair Credit Opportunity Act). Also, until 1981, wives did not share in the legal control of jointly owned property (Kirchberg v. Feenstra). Without the battles the women before us fought and won not so long ago, the women who followed might not be heard today. It’s worth celebrating.

Bringing the topic closer to home, I invite you to attend a special Women’s History Celebration honoring the remarkable contributions women have made to our community. The event will take place on Thursday, March 20 at 2 p.m. It will begin with a celebratory gathering and light refreshments, followed by a proclamation presentation during the city’s 3 p.m. Commission Workshop. Join us for an afternoon of recognition, reflection, and appreciation.

Contact Commissioner Jeniffer Viscarra at seat4@sibfl.net or 305.792.1750.