By Mari Kim

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll be posting one story each day of March written by local citizen journalists about a revolutionary woman from history or today who has inspired them as women.

I met Olivia Smith at a Valley & Mountain celebration last summer. As a college student attending Seattle University (SU), she was selected to participate in the Ministry Internship Project sponsored by the United Methodist Church. Spending the summer with us, she was invited to explore the possibility of a call to ministry. She was required to secure a lay mentor, and invited me to journey with her. I found Olivia to be beyond exceptional. Her vibrant spirit and incisive mind created understanding and insights that were compelling, but it was her heart – open and empathetic and unwilling to be hardened with despair – that struck me with unusual hope. She inspired me with who I was encountering her to be. As an academic, I understood why this college student had been awarded so many exceptional recognitions. She was an intern for Adam Smith, is the recipient of the Sullivan Leadership Award at Seattle University, the Washington State Truman Scholarship (a national scholarship for students who will pursue a career in public service; it provides money for grad school and a network), and won the prestigious Fastpitch Competition which takes place in front of hundreds of local and national innovators. Hosted by Social Venture Partners, Olivia ranked 1st among the college students presenting by mastering a 5-minute presentation about her work with the Youth Ambassadors organization and received $5,000 in funding.  Continue reading 31 Days of Revolutionary Women, #30: Olivia Smith →

By Kris Malone Grossman

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll be posting one story each day of March written by local citizen journalists about a revolutionary woman from history or today who has inspired them as women.

“My country ’tis of thy people you’re dying”

Perhaps you recognize this lyric as that of award-winning Cree activist/singer-songwriter/educator/visual artist Buffy Sainte-Marie, whom you may know from her 1970s Sesame Street lactivism or her current album Power in the Blood, nominated for three Juno Awards. However you may know her, Sainte-Marie has been racking up awards (Oscar, Golden Globe, Juno) ever since her debut album, It’s My Way!, rocked the airwaves in 1964, when Billboard Mag voted her Best New Artist—the same year the Beatles hit the U.S.   Continue reading 31 Days of Revolutionary Women, #29: Buffy Sainte-Marie →

By Sophie Suberman

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll be posting one story each day of March written by local citizen journalists about a revolutionary woman from history or today who has inspired them as women.

For a civil rights activist, lawyer, groundbreaking Episcopalian priest, poet and author, likely transgender, lesbian woman of multiracial descent, Pauli Murray’s legacy remains largely unknown. And yet, she may be the perfect embodiment of our current America – certainly of our current Seattle.  Continue reading 31 Days of Revolutionary Women, #28: Pauli Murray →

By Nicole Gervacio

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll be posting one story each day of March written by local citizen journalists about a revolutionary woman from history or today who has inspired them as women.

There are a handful of influential women recognized in Philippine history with gracious titles such as “Mother of the Philippine Red Cross” and “Mother of the Philippine Revolution.” The stories of these women still remain relatively unknown – as often is the case with Philippine history – but with the opportunity to shine light on any revolutionary woman in history, I decided to feature a more obscure name: Nieves Fernandez. While Nieves Fernandez may seem a violent historical figure to commemorate for Women’s History Month, in the context of Philippine history, her actions were necessary to aid in the liberation of her people.  Continue reading 31 Days of Revolutionary Women, #27: Nieves Fernandez →

By Irene DeMaris

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’ll be posting one story each day of March written by local citizen journalists about a revolutionary woman from history or today who has inspired them as women.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton is known as an abolitionist, suffragette and Susan B. Anthony’s bestie, but many don’t know her impact on theology as one of the foremothers of feminist biblical scholarship.  Continue reading 31 Days of Revolutionary Women, #26: Elizabeth Cady Stanton →