MAKERS: The Women Who Make America

Look around you. Chances are, you’ll notice a woman or a girl who is doing something exceptional. She may be famous, or she may live right next door. Either way, she is making a difference in America.

As part of the WGVU Engage outreach and community engagement programs, a three-year inclusion initiative called Women and Girls Lead honors and empowers these exceptional women and girls.  

On Feb. 7, they’re hosting a screening event at Celebration! Cinema North to launch MAKERS: Women Who Make America, a national video and broadcast initiative. WGVU Public Media, PBS, and AOL are behind the launch of this dynamic, multi-platform collection of women’s stories highlighting the contributions that have shaped America.

In the documentary, women such as Katie Couric, Ellen DeGeneres, Billie Jean King, Maya Lin, Condoleezza Rice, Gloria Steinem, and many more share the story of the women’s movement and how it changed our country.

The WGVU Engage Women and Girls Lead organization began in 2011 and is part of a national public media initiative that, according the website, is “designed to focus, educate, and connect women, girls, and their allies across the globe to address the challenges of the 21st century.”

The idea is to empower women and girls to step into leadership roles, improve their communities, and to be innovative. The local group hosts a few events each year and their focus is on making positive changes in three areas: healthy living, ending violence, and leadership.

“Women and girls everywhere are stepping into leadership roles and while we’ve come a long way, there is still a long way to go and more we can do,” says Steering Committee Co-Chair Deidra McClelland. “Women and Girls Lead has the ability to raise awareness around issues facing women and girls.”

As part of the Women and Girls Lead initiative, WGVU will also air more than 40 documentaries geared toward women and girls and those who support them. MAKERS: Women Who Make America is one of those documentaries and it will be shown in its entirety on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. on PBS.

At the Feb. 7 “MAKERS: Women Who Inspire” event, there will be a short 15-20 minute screening of the film followed by interviews with local “MAKERS” and a panel discussion led by Shelley Irwin, host of the WGVU Morning Show.

The Women and Girls Lead Steering Committee has nominated 22 Michigan “MAKERS” and four will participate on the panel. The four panelists include: Avery McNew, Nicki Hurley, Synia Jordan, and Dr. Patricia Quattrin. A special recognition for the accomplishments of the late Eva McCall Hamilton will take place as well.

Local women and girls of all ages were nominated. The youngest is Avery McNew, an 8-year-old who won a national “Healthy Lunchtime Challenge” and became one of 54 children attending the first Kids State Dinner with First Lady Michelle Obama.  

Locally, more than 100 women and girls -- and a couple guys -- have joined the Women and Girls Lead advisory council and are working toward moving this initiative forward in West and Southwest Michigan. If you would like to get involved, here are some ways you can:

-    Visit Women and Girls Lead online to find out more.
-    Attend the local MAKERS: Women Who Inspire event on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. at Celebration! Cinema North. Order your free tickets online or call WGVU at 1-800-442-2771. (Each guest will receive a $2 coupon for any combo.)
-    To see a preview of MAKERS: Women Who Make America and find out more, visit MAKERS online.
-    Watch the full MAKERS movie on PBS on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m.
-    Contact Linda Kennedy at 616-331-6777 or email her if you want to support Women and Girls Lead and be on the Advisory Council.
-    Like Women and Girls Lead – Engage on Facebook.
-    Like MAKERS on Facebook.

Source: Deidra McClelland, WGVU Engage Women and Girls Lead Steering Committee Co-Chair
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor

Images provided by the WGVU Engage Women and Girls Lead initiative.