Happy International Women’s Day Spurs Monthlong Cultural Events and Community Anti-Violence Action

Residents now have expanded ways to act—monthlong cultural workshops, daily recognition posts, and a standing anti-violence forum—rather than a single day of celebration. With the next UCAN meeting set for the second Monday at 1: 00 p. m. ET, programs led by Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Center turn happy international women’s day into sustained commitment.

Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Center Extends International Women’s Day All Month

Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, Tsi Ronterihwanónhnha ne Kanien’kéha Language and Cultural Center is dedicating the entire month to celebrating and uplifting women. Staff member Miranda Gabriel said the center aims to highlight many different inspirations for females, centering workshops that reflect traditional and cultural roles while appreciating women in the community.

The center is running daily recognition posts, inviting community members to nominate moms, sisters, co-workers, and friends with a photo and message. Recent spotlights have included Warisose Gabriel, Rosalie Morris, Linda Katsitsénhawe Cree, and Tsoieon Gabriel, underscoring the effort to make appreciation a shared, public act throughout March.

Programming stretches across the month, including a Women’s Roles and Responsibilities workshop with Wendy Hill of the Cayuga Nation on March 7, a beading night with Kawisaienhne Albany, seed songs with Iakorihwatoken Hemlock, and Gardens of Hope with Karyn Murray. The slate also features a workshop with birth keepers Patricia Gabriel and Taionthahine Nicholas from the Tekontateriéntare Multigenerational Center for Women’s Wellness, and a We Are Creation session with Beverly Cook.

Kevin Nelson, an employee at the center, emphasized the importance of understanding distinct roles and responsibilities in their culture, describing how women’s responsibilities—such as creating life—shape families and communities. He added that men should participate to gain a clearer picture of women’s impact. International Women’s Day has been celebrated since 1911, recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

UCAN and Alexandria Police Department Open a Monthly Hub for Prevention

In Douglas County, efforts will meet regularly: United Communities Advocating Non-Violence (UCAN) invites citizens concerned about domestic violence to gather on the second Monday of each month at 1: 00 p. m. ET at the Alexandria Police Department. The standing forum creates a predictable space for survivors, advocates, and neighbors to align on safety, resources, and next steps.

Shannon Burdette, a UCAN member and a Someplace Safe crime victim advocate in Alexandria, MN, underscored the broader goal: keeping the county violence-free requires believing survivors, offering resources without judgment, and promoting respect and healthy relationships. Prevention, she wrote, starts early—by teaching empathy, boundaries, and conflict resolution, and by addressing harmful behaviors before they escalate.

Collaboration is central to UCAN’s approach: advocates, service providers, law enforcement partners, educators, and community members are recognized for working together to end violence. That cooperation, Burdette noted, strengthens families, protects the vulnerable, and creates pathways to healing—an ongoing effort that moves beyond crisis response into education, accountability, and compassion.

Happy International Women’s Day: Wendy Hill, Beverly Cook and Community Teachers

The month’s anchor events name the contributors who will guide conversations and skills: Wendy Hill will lead a Women’s Roles and Responsibilities workshop focusing on traditional aspects of women’s roles in the community; Beverly Cook will blend science and storytelling in a We Are Creation workshop; and community teachers like Kawisaienhne Albany, Iakorihwatoken Hemlock, and Karyn Murray will lead hands-on and restorative sessions.

Miranda Gabriel said the goal is to inspire—from daily recognitions to workshops that affirm traditional knowledge and community care. The center’s daily nominations expand participation beyond a single date, inviting families to publicly honor women whose leadership often goes unseen. For many locals, happy international women’s day now reads as an open invitation to engage all month.

Kevin Nelson encouraged broad participation, including men, to better understand women’s responsibilities and their impact on families. That message aligns with UCAN’s prevention-first mindset in Douglas County, where the regular meeting offers a practical entry point for residents who want to support safety and accountability year-round.

Next up, Wendy Hill’s workshop is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, and UCAN’s next monthly meeting is set for the second Monday at 1: 00 p. m. ET at the Alexandria Police Department. If daily nominations at the cultural center continue at their current pace, recognitions will spotlight more community members through the end of the month.