Empowering Women in Business conference keynote speaker Mary Carlomagno is a nationally recognized author and expert in organization and clutter control.
By LORRAINE U. MARTINELLE
DUDLEY, Mass.—This week (April 1-5) is the Nichols College Institute for Women’s Leadership‘s (IWL) annual Awareness Week, and a slate of events has been scheduled for the Nichols community to join the conversation.
Equal Pay Day is Tuesday, April 2; it symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year.
“We’ve decided to not only recognize that day, but to also put on a series of awareness activities together throughout the week to bring our community together and raise awareness of key issues affecting all students, regardless of gender,” said IWL Director Rachel Ferreira. “I hope to see Nichols community members stop by our tables and get involved with our very talented students who are a part of the Institute for Women’s Leadership’s Advisory Panel.”
The students responsible for these events and the hard work that was put into this week are:
- Lexxus Andrews ’20, criminal justice major; Uxbridge, Mass.
- Bridget Canavan ’21, international business major; Dudley, Mass.
- Kaylin Goncalves ’19, international business major; Norwood, Mass.
- Alicia Hunks ’22, accounting major; Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
- Marshalee Johnson ’19, management major; Natick, Mass.
- Sachelle Mercado ’20, general business major; Worcester, Mass.
- Anastasia Noyes ’21, human resource management; Spencer, Mass.
- Isabella Portt ’22, criminal justice major; Madoc, Ontario, Canada
- Sophia Prouty ’21, economics major; Thompson, Conn.
- James Singletary ’19, criminal justice management major; Marlborough, Mass.
- Rebecca Taylor ’22, criminal justice major; Ridgefield, Conn.
- Lynn Thibault ’20, marketing communications major; Webster, Mass.
- Emily Tinyszin ’21, accounting major; Southington, Conn.
Don’t forget: The annual Empowering Women in Business Conference is Thursday, April 4, featuring keynote speaker Mary Carlomagno, a nationally recognized author and expert in organization and clutter control.
AWARENESS WEEK EVENTS
Movement Monday, April 1:
- Flowers for a Cause: Flowers with motivational messages will be distributed through the student population. Feel free to pass on the message to someone in need.
- Love Your Selfie Campaign; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Nichols students will be asked to write what they like about themselves on a white board and pose with it for a Polaroid Instaprint. Participants will receive Panera and IWL giveaways.
Troublesome Tuesday, April 2:
National Equal Pay Day, symbolic of how far into the year women must work to in order to earn what men did in the previous year. Wear red to represent how far women and minorities are “in the red” with their pay.
- Equal Pay Day Bake Sale; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: A nationwide awareness event where men will pay $1 while women will pay 75 cents for baked goods, to underscore the impact of the gender wage gap. All proceeds will be donated to Girls Inc. of Worcester.
Wednesday Words, April 3:
- Students Against Sexual Violence Campaign; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: In honor of April being sexual assault awareness month, students can show support against sexual violence by placing teal and white ribbons on a pipe-and-drape display for the day.
- In Their Own Words Campaign; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Women of Nichols will be asked to confront the offensive things they hear on a daily basis by posing with printed posters during this public event. They will write a racist or sexist label they face and redefine themselves in their own words. Participants will receive Dunkin Donuts and IWL giveaways.
Thursday Thoughts, April 4:
- Tearing it Up Campaign; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Nichols students will be asked to be photographed tearing up words and phrases that perpetuate stereotypes. This campaign focuses on generating awareness of the stereotypes that exist, fostering a commitment to not use the language, and facilitating a conversation about why. (Student Station and panelist visits to faculty and staff).
Friday Feels, April 5:
- Who Influences You Campaign; Lombard Patio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Men of Nichols will be asked to pose with a board on which they write the name of a female who influenced them in order to heighten their awareness of how the gender gap affects those they love. Participants will receive Dippin’ Donuts and IWL giveaways.
- (Un)Happy Hour Pub Night; Copper Quad, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.: A nationwide awareness event where men will pay a $1 cover while women will pay 75 cents, to underscore the impact of the gender wage gap. All proceeds will be donated to Girls Inc. of Worcester. Entertainment, light hors d’oeuvres, silent auction, raffle, and IWL giveaways. Wear black to stand in solidarity with our sisters to say #timesup on the imbalance of power across all industries. For more information @TIMESUPNOW, @timesupnow.
All events will be held outdoors on Lombard Patio unless due to inclement weather. The rain location for Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays events is Davis Lobby. The rain location for Tuesday and Thursday events is Fels Main Street.
Lorraine U. Martinelle is director of public relations and social media at Nichols College. Send story ideas to Lorraine.Martinelle@nichols.edu.