From the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture
Elected officials in Maplewood and South Orange, in partnership with township departments, divisions, and organizations, join with local business districts to celebrate the achievements of women. The focus for 2021 is ‘Women Lifting Women’ which will be realized through more than 45 unique events including safe, socially distant and/or virtual concerts, performances, author events, exhibits, classes, fundraisers, drives, projects, and initiatives.
“We invite residents to celebrate our mothers, daughters, sisters, educators, first responders and frontline workers during these very challenging times,” said Maplewood Township Committeewoman Nancy Adams, “our two-town leadership is filled with support for the contributions of women throughout the years and especially today! Women are carrying the weight of the pandemic in “sheroic” ways: juggling their careers, families, homes, elderly parents, and their children’s education—which became virtual almost a year ago.”
Sheena Collum, first woman to hold the title of Village President in South Orange, is proud that despite the limitations due to the ongoing pandemic, SOMA will honor our women in a variety of ways. “Our goal is to elevate, empower, support and showcase women throughout our community—in the news, via zoom, and sprinkled in the windows of our brick and mortar businesses in our two towns.”
“When we reflect on the events of the past year, Women’s History Month has taken on new meaning in 2021. With 55 percent of U.S. jobs lost in 2020 accounted for by women, COVID-19 has not only further exposed the pre-existing gender inequities that continue to exist in our society, the pandemic has deepened them. This cannot stand. We need women and girls to continue to lead and to thrive at all levels of our society and in our local community so that we do not run the risk of unwinding decades of hard-fought progress for generations to come.” – Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee
Highlights of events include: SHEROES, an exhibit of Female Essential Front-Line Workers; Windows-For-Women, two-town wide window gallery exhibition collaboration with 30+ female-owned SOMA businesses and 30 local female visual artists participating; ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’ Documentary Watch Party and Discussion with Columbia High School Current Events Club and POWER the Intersectional Feminism Club at CHS; Women’s History Month Day of Service: Food, Feminine Hygiene Products, and Women’s Clothing Drive; and WOMEN IN MUSIC Virtual Chamber Music Concert with Members from South Orange Symphony and Garden State Philharmonic, from SOPAC and The Woodland, with generous support and sponsorship from Pollock Properties Group, Keller Williams Premier Properties, and Matt Kean Guaranteed Rate.
So that everyone may enjoy and participate in the events for 2021 with physical distancing and covid-19 guidelines established, the majority of events will take place online, via Zoom, in store windows, displays and installations. Detailed descriptions, updates and links can be found at www.somawomen.org. Weekly township email and social media campaigns will detail upcoming events. #SOMACelebratesWomen
Women have played a critical role in leading, shaping, and enhancing our community, our country and humankind. Please join us as we celebrate Women’s History in March and always!
Visit www.somawomen.org for updates, details and links.
All events are free unless otherwise noted. The preliminary lineup of events is as follows:
- WINDOWS-for-WOMEN: 30 SOMA Women-Owned Brick and Mortar Businesses Showcase the Visual Artwork of 30 Local Women Artists
March 1 – March 31, SOMA Storefront Windows, Map Available
SOMA celebrates women, Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture, Maplewood Department of Community Services, Maplewood Village Alliance, Springfield Avenue Partnership and South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) - SHEROES – Celebrating Female Essential Workers Exhibit
A Tribute to SOMA Female Frontline Workers
March 1 – March 31, Windows at 1978 Springfield Avenue
Maplewood: Health Department, Division of Arts & Culture, Department of Community Services, 1978 Maplewood Arts Center, and South Orange Village - The SHEROES of the Maplewood Police Force
Month of March, Online and Social Media
Maplewood Police Department, Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture - Artist Spotlight News Series Celebrating Female Local Artists
Month of March, Weekly, Online + Social Media
Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture - SOMA ‘Wear White for Women’ Photos
All Welcome, Wear White, Snap a Selfie, Hashtag #SOMAWearsWhite & Post
March 1 – March 31, Social Media/Instagram
SOMA celebrates women - The Fight for Women’s Suffrage Online Exhibit
March 1 – March 31 and Beyond, Permanent Online Link
Durand-Hedden House - GIVE to the MAX! MAXI PAD DRIVE
March 1 – March 31, Drop off Monday – Saturday, 8am – 3pm
OLS Food Pantry, MEND and FeedSOMany - Women’s History Month Book Display Collection
with Online Selection for Ordering
Month of March, 179 Maplewood Ave. Window Display & Website
[words] Bookstore - ‘BILLIE’ – Documentary about Billie Holiday, the Master Jazz Singer
March 1 – April 1, Film On Demand, $12 Rental
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - ‘Linda Ronstadt – The Sound of My Voice’
March 1 – April 1, Film On Demand, $8 Rental
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - ‘Ella Fitzgerald – Just One Of Those Things’
March, 1 – April 30, Film On Demand, $12 Rental
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - Women’s History Month Book List Inspiration for Our Young Ones, Our Youth & Ourselves Month of March and Beyond, List: www.SOMAwomen.org Books: Library and [words] Bookstore Maplewood & South Orange Librarians, and Resident and Editorial Director of Oprah’s Book Club Leigh Haber
- Female-Owned Brick and Mortar Businesses List
Month of March and Ongoing, www.SOMAWomen.org
Springfield Avenue Partnership, Maplewood Village Alliance, Maplewood Chamber of Commerce, and South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) - Women’s History Month Proclamation
Tuesday, March 2, 7:30pm, Zoom
Maplewood Township Committee - Female Artist Rachel Arturi Pruzan Showcase at ReMerch
March 2 – March 31, Tuesdays – Sundays, In-Person 10am -7pm, or Virtual
ReMerch, 1843 Springfield Avenue, Maplewood - New Moms Virtual Coffee with SOMA Families Meetup
Virtually Chat with Other “New” Moms – 1st Time Mom, Mom with New Baby or Expecting, or a Mom Who Needs Solidarity Navigating Motherhood
Friday, March 5, 10am, Zoom, For SOMA Families Meetup Members Only
SOMA Families Meetup and Molli Jackson Ehlert - ‘Musetta’s Stories and Melodies from Around the World’
with Dr. Lori Brown Mirabal
March 5 – March 31, Film On Demand, $10 Rental
Progressive Theater - International Women Rising Series: Claudia Acuña, Virtual Concert
Musical Celebration with Pablo Vergara (Piano), Carlos Henderson (Bass), Juancho Herrera (Guitar), Rodrigo Recabarren (Drums)
Saturday, March 6, 3pm & 8pm, Online, Tickets $15 – $20
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - International Women Rising Series: Grand Opera Divas of Spain, Virtual Concert
Montserrat Martí Caballé & Cecilia Lavilla Berganza
Sunday, March 7, 3pm & 6pm, Online, Tickets $15 – $20
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - Wage Gap 62¢* On-The-Dollar Cup of Joe Fundraiser at Able Baker
[*62¢ Is What a Black Woman Earns for Every White Man’s $1]
Monday, March 8, Int’l Women’s Day, 8am – 4pm, Coupon Code: wagegap
Able Baker and National Domestic Workers Alliance - We All Could Use a Laugh – Iconic Women of Comedy
with Annabelle Gurwitch, Author of ‘You’re Leaving When?’ An Adventure in Downward Mobility, in Conversation with SNL Cast Member, Laraine Newman
Tuesday, March 9, 7:30pm, Zoom Virtual Book Talk
[words] Bookstore and JCC MetroWest - The Car Mom: Kelly Suntrup, Mom of Two Under Two, Who Grew Up in the Car Business, Brings Her Perspective to the Car Buying Experience — Narrowing Your List, Top Picks, Negotiating and More
Tuesday, March 9, 8pm – 9:30pm, Online, $10 with Membership
For SOMA Families Meetup Members Only
SOMA Families Meetup and Carol Mahida - Release, Breathe, Love: Creating More Love for You and the World
Wednesday, March 10, 12pm, Free Zoom Workshop
Rita Desnoyers-Garcia, Spiritual Teacher, Coach, and Author - Women’s Self-Care. Dismantling the Myths. Speakers & Maplewood Residents: Former Miss America, Kim Cockerham; Former VP Global Communications, The Estée Lauder Companies, Trenesa Danuser; Global Communications Executive & Maplewood First Lady Marie McGehee; and Co-Founder BRWL Boxing + Yoga Studio, Michelle Swittenberg. Moderated by Mayor Frank McGehee
Wednesday, March 10, 7:00pm, Zoom
Township of Maplewood - ‘Swing Time’ by Zadie Smith, Classic & Contemporary Book Discussion Group,
A Novel Following Two Brown Girls Who Dream of Being Dancers
Wednesday, March 11, 7pm, Zoom
Maplewood Library - MAPSO Pop Up Headshot Studio for All Women Including Those Who Identify within the LGBTQ+ Community Re-Entering the Work Force
1st 30 Free for Maplewood and South Orange Residents/Registrants Based on Need. Once Full, a Number of Discounted Sessions will be Available for $50ea
March 11 – March 22, by Appointment, in Person, at The Woodland
Multiple Dates/Limited Time Slots – Register Online, First Come
Maplewood Department of Community Services, South Orange Village, and
Joy Yagid Photography LLC - Virtual Book Talk: ‘In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now for When You’re Not Around Later’
with authors Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer
Thursday, March 11, 7:30pm, Zoom
[words] Bookstore - A Variety of HER – A Celebration of Brave Girls in History & Culture with Stories and Acoustic Songs, For Ages 5 – 10 and Everyone
Saturday, March 13, 4pm – 5pm, Online
Kat De Bari, Musician and Teacher - The Writers Challenge: Juggling Humor, Permission, and The Voices Inside Our Heads, A special Women’s History Month Program with Writers VC (Tori) Chickering, Doreen Oliver and Rebecca Hardiman
Monday, March 15, 7pm, Zoom
Maplewood Library - Read Around the World: Senegal, ‘The Strong Women’ by Marie NDiaye,
An Astonishing Feat of Self-Preservation, Stunning Narration of the Progress by which Three Ordinary Women Discover Unimagined Reserves of Strength
Wednesday, March 17, 7pm, Zoom
Maplewood Library - Three Visionary Women: Three Great Art Museums
Thursday, March 18, 7pm, Online, $20
The South Orange-Maplewood Adult School - A Free Mother/Daughter Contemporary Ballet Zoom Class For All Levels
Taught by Katie Lohiya, LJD Principal Dancer
Saturday March 20, 10am – 11am, Zoom
Lydia Johnson Dance, and Lydia Johnson Dance School - The Women Who Built the Maplewood Library
Thursday, March 18, 7:30pm, Zoom
Hilton Neighborhood Association - Women’s History Month Virtual Cabaret
Friday, March 19 – Sunday, March 21, Online, Tickets $10
interACT Productions - Women’s History Month Day of Service: Food, Feminine Hygiene Products, and Women’s Clothing Drive
Saturday, March 20, 12:30pm – 4:30pm, OLS Pantry Lot, 217 Prospect Street, SO
South Orange & Maplewood Girl Scouts, OLS Food Pantry, South Orange Village, and Maplewood Township - ‘She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry’ Documentary Watch Party & Discussion
Saturday, March 20, 7pm, Free with Pre-registration. Vimeo + Zoom Discussion
CHS Current Events Club, POWER, SOMA Film Fest, Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture, and Maplewood Department of Community Services - Virtual Book Talk: ‘In My Mosque’
with Author Mindy Yuksel and Illustrator Hatem Aly
Monday, March 22, 7pm, Zoom
[words] Bookstore - Virtual Book Talk: ‘The Ten Year War’ by Jonathan Cohn and ‘The Trillion Dollar Revolution’ by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel. Both Authors Discuss The Affordable Care Act in its 11th Year Anniversary
Essential Consequence to Women, Women’s Health and Family
Tuesday, March 23, 7:30pm, Online
[words] Bookstore - A Fireside Chat with Alexandra Carter, Moderated by Maplewood First Lady Marie McGehee. Alex Carter is a Clinical Professor of Law, Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School, and author of “Ask for More,” a Wall Street Journal Bestseller. Marie McGehee is Global Communications Executive at Fortune 20 Company Wednesday, March 24, 7:00pm, Zoom Township of Maplewood
- MOVE with FREEDOM – A Somatic Movement Workshop with Gena Rho, Clinical Somatic Educator Thursday, March 25, 12pm – 1:15pm, Free on Zoom Shakti Yoga and Living Arts, and Emerge Somatics
- Women’s Work: A Tasting Celebrating Women in the Chocolate Industry
Thursday, March 25, 7:30pm, Zoom, Single Tasting $36, 2-Person Tasting $60
Nadine Kerstan Certified Chocolate Sommelier, Barometer Chocolate - SOPAC Sessions Concert: Roberta Gambarini with Cyrus Chestnut, John Lee and Tommy Campbell (Live Stream Series)
Thursday, March 25, 7:30pm, Online, Tickets $10
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) - ‘SUPERHEROES Are Everywhere’ by Kamala Harris
A Reading of Vice President Kamala Harris’ Children’s Book
Friday, March 26, Zoom
Maplewood Department of Community Services - WOMEN IN MUSIC: Virtual Concert with Members from Garden State Philharmonic & South Orange Symphony
Recorded from The Woodland & South Orange Performing Arts Center
Friday, March 26, Online at www.sopacnow.org
Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture, Maplewood Department of Community Services, South Orange Village, and South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). Generous support/sponsorship from Pollock Properties Group, Keller Williams Premier Properties, and Matt Kean Guaranteed Rate - ‘Lady Parts!’ Fun, Fabulous Scenes/Monologues Performed By & About Women
March 27 & 28, Times To Be Announced, Free Zoom
The Strollers - The Curios Beginner: Self-Discovery Through Playful Creation of Art Workshops for Women, Inspired by Tom Vanderbilt’s Critically Acclaimed Book, ‘Beginners’
March 29, 7pm, Online Workshop, Fees Cover Supplies — Pickup at ReMerch
Rachel Arturi Pruzan and ReMerch - International Women Rising Series: Magos Herrera Virtual Concert
Friday, April 2, 3pm & 9pm Online, Tickets $15 – $20
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC)
SOMA celebrates women honors the lives and achievements of women all throughout the year featuring a series of events geared towards education, empowerment, support and solidarity as we amplify women’s voices to honor the past, inform the present and inspire the future. #SomaCelebratesWomen
2021 SOMA Celebrates Women and Women’s History Month Team
Nancy Adams and Sheena Collum are joined on the SOMA Celebrates Women Steering Committee and Women’s History Month Team by Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee, South Orange Village Trustees Karen Hartshorn Hilton, Summer Jones and Donna Coallier, Maplewood Democratic Committee Co-Chair Garnet Hall, Former Maplewood Deputy Mayor Kathy Leventhal, Board of Education 1st Vice President Shannon Cuttle, South Orange Deputy Administrator Julie Doran, South Orange Village Center Director Melissa Hodge, Maplewood Village Alliance Director Deb Yohannan, Springfield Avenue Partnership Executive Director Nicole Wallace, Maplewood Department of Community Services Director Melissa Mancuso, Maplewood Director of Health Candice Davenport, Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture Director Ana De Archuleta, Maplewood Division of Arts &Culture Events Coordinator Lisa Mainardi, South Orange Recreation Director Peter Travers, and Maplewood First Lady Marie McGehee.
www.SOMAWomen.org • IG: @SomaCelebratesWomen • FB Groups: @somawomen
