Celebrate Women's History Month at CCPL with a series of women's empowerment programs

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Throughout the month of March, CCPL will be celebrating Women's History Month with a series of women's empowerment programs, including gallery events, book discussions, lectures, and more!

How did Women's History Month get started? Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed a bill that authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed another bill that designated the entire month as Women's History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.

Check out the events taking place this month at CCPL branches! 

Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 6 

Feminist Film Festival (Teens)
Main Library, Teen Lounge
Kick off Women’s History Month in the Teen Lounge with films featuring amazing women! 

• Monday, March 2: Captain Marvel 3:30-5:30 
• Tuesday, March 3: Suffragette 3:30-5:00 
• Wednesday, March 4: Queen of Katwe 3:30-5:30 
• Thursday, March 5: Jinn 3:30-5:00 
• Friday, March 6: Fast Color 3:30-5:10 

 

Mondays, March 2, 9, 16 and 30 at 5 p.m. Thursdays, March 5 and 19 at 5 p.m. 

Female Hero Posters 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library 
Celebrate Women’s Month as we honor women who mean a lot to us.  Visit the Creative Studio to make a poster that pays tribute to your female hero. Registration is suggested. Call 843-795-6679 ext. 8105 or email [email protected] to register. 

 

Tuesday, March 3

Book discussion of “The Woman's Hour”  
Dorchester Road Library at 6 p.m. 
Join us for a discussion of “The Woman's Hour”, an inspiring story of activists winning their own freedom in one of the last campaigns forged in the shadow of the Civil War, and the beginning of the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights. Lead by representatives from the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

Not Fiction Book Discussion  
Main Library, Meeting Room A at 6:30 p.m.  
Join us for a discussion of “She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement” by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

 

Tuesday, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31  

Broad Strokes (Teens)
Main Library, Teen Lounge
Every Tuesday in March create a work of art inspired by a female artist. Your work can be displayed in the Teen Lounge for the rest of the month.  

• Tuesday, March 3: Frida Kahlo 
• Tuesday March 10: Annie Leibovitz  
• Tuesday March 17: Elizabeth Catlett  
• Tuesday March 24: Yayoi Kusama  
• Tuesday March 31: Georgia O’Keeffe 

 

Wednesday, March 4 

Empowering Ourselves and Others (Teens and Adults)  
Main Library, Meeting Room B from 6-7:30  
What does it mean to empower women? What does it mean to empower others and ourselves? Join us for a powerful workshop with My Sister’s House about creating change and having a positive impact on the lives of others and yourself.    

 

Thursday, March 5

Women’s History Trivia (Teens) 
John L. Dart Library from 3:30-5 p.m.  
Test your knowledge of women’s history for a prize!  

 

Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 1 p.m.

Girl Power Film Series (ages 8 and up)
Dorchester Road Library
Be inspired by these films featuring strong female characters. 

• March 7: Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken; G; 90 minutes.
• March 14: Frozen; PG; 108 minutes.
• March 21: Akeelah and the Bee; PG; 112 minutes.
• March 28: Queen of Katwe; PG; 124 minutes.

 

Monday, March 9

Book discussion of “The Woman's Hour”  
Folly Beach Library at 2:30 p.m. 
Join us for a discussion of “The Woman's Hour”, an inspiring story of activists winning their own freedom in one of the last campaigns forged in the shadow of the Civil War, and the beginning of the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights. Lead by representatives from the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

Goal Setting and Mindset: Figuring out what you want and how to get there
Main Library, Meeting Room B at 6 p.m. 
Jessica, a 17 year entrepreneur and confidence coach, will guide you through a workshop detailing and narrowing down the goals you have for yourself.  It can be financial, career, relationship, health, spirituality or fitness...whatever you want.  You will then determine what limiting beliefs you have stopping you from obtaining these goals and by the end of the workshop you will have created new beliefs around this and set clear intentions on how to get there.  A notebook or journal and a pen is all that is needed. 

 

Tuesday, March 10

Women’s Empowerment and the Vote   
Otranto Library at 6 p.m. 
Join us for an informative history of women’s suffrage efforts; empowerment and future opportunities and challenges – from both a national and local/state perspective. Presented by League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

 

Wednesday, March 11

Empowering Ourselves and Others (Teens and Adults)  
Mt. Pleasant Library from 6-7:30 p.m.   
What does it mean to empower women? What does it mean to empower others and ourselves? Join us for a powerful workshop with My Sister’s House about creating change and having a positive impact on the lives of others and yourself.    

 

Thursday, March 12

“Harriet” (Teens)
Dorchester Road Library at 3:45 p.m.
The extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

 

Friday, March 13 

Empowering Ourselves and Others (Teens and Adults) 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library from 4-5:30 
What does it mean to empower women? What does it mean to empower others and ourselves? Join us for a powerful workshop with My Sister’s House about creating change and having a positive impact on the lives of others and yourself.    

 

Saturday, March 14

Women’s Empowerment and the Vote 
Wando Library at 10:30 a.m. 
Join us for an informative history of women’s suffrage efforts; empowerment and future opportunities and challenges – from both a national and local/state perspective. Presented by League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

Saturday Stories: Women’s History Month (Children’s) 
Wando Library at 11 a.m.  
All ages welcome. Join us for an hour of stories, songs, and crafts that celebrate the amazing achievements of girls and women! 

 

Monday, March 16

Classic Movie Monday 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library at 11 a.m. 
“Gone with the Wind” (1939) Rated G; Runtime: 217 minutes 

“Well Behaved Women Seldom Make History”: The Charleston Women who Shattered Tradition  
Mt. Pleasant Library at 11 a.m. 
A group of courageous, innovative women from Charleston would disrupt the status quo of their generations and in doing so, their accomplishments would open opportunities for the women that followed, not only here in Charleston but across the United States. Through local tour guide Lee Ann Bain, you will meet the ladies, hear their remarkable stories and see for yourself what transpires when you don’t adhere to the norm. 

Carin Bloom Interpreting Catharine Green  
Mt. Pleasant Library at 2 p.m.  
Meet Catharine "Caty" Greene, the wife of General Nathanael Greene. She will share her experiences during the American Revolution and shine a light on the role of women during this exciting time. 

Book discussion of “The Woman's Hour” 
Main Library, Meeting Room B at 6 p.m. 
Join us for a discussion of “The Woman's Hour”, an inspiring story of activists winning their own freedom in one of the last campaigns forged in the shadow of the Civil War, and the beginning of the great twentieth-century battles for civil rights. Lead by representatives from the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

 

Tuesday, March 17

Women’s Empowerment and the Vote 
Hurd/St. Andrews Library at 6 p.m. 
Join us for an informative history of women’s suffrage efforts; empowerment and future opportunities and challenges – from both a national and local/state perspective. Presented by League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

 

Wednesday, March 18

Create Your Own Women’s Empowerment Statement 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. 
Learn how to use our Adobe Software to create your own Empowerment Statement for display at home or office. Motivate yourself or a loved one with an inspiring message. Registration suggested, so please call 843-795-6679 ext. 8106 or [email protected]. 

Storybook Art (Children’s) 
John L. Dart Library at 3:30 p.m.   
Get creative on a special Women’s History Month-inspired art project with experts from Artist & Craftsman Supply.  

 

Wednesday, March 18 

Empowering Ourselves and Others (Teens and Adults) 
Dorchester Road Library from 6-7:30 p.m.
What does it mean to empower women? What does it mean to empower others and ourselves? Join us for a powerful workshop with My Sister’s House about creating change and having a positive impact on the lives of others and yourself.   

 

Thursday, March 19

Not Fiction Book Discussion  
West Ashley Library at 11 a.m. 
Join us for a discussion of “She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement” by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

“Choose Your Own Adventure” Pasta Salad (ages 11 and under)  
John L. Dart Library at 3:30 p.m.  
Choose what seasonal vegetables you like best to make a simple pasta salad with Chef Robin Hollis of restaurant Basic Kitchen. Supplies and space are limited, so participation is first come, first served.   

Teen Trivia: Women in Music (Teens) 
Dorchester Road Library at 3:45 p.m.  
Play trivia and learn more about music for Women’s History Month. Participants will compete for prizes by answering questions centered on women in Rock, Hip-Hop, R&B, and more. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Women's History in the Making: An Oral History from Thomasena Stokes-Marshall  
Mt. Pleasant Library from 6-7:30 p.m. 
Honor local legend and current history-maker Thomasena Stokes-Marshall as she guides listeners through personal stories of changemaking, from her beginnings in the Lowcountry to community service, political successes and more. Stokes-Marshall will also share how she has supported Gullah/Geechee culture, including preserving the sweetgrass basket art form. Attendees will be welcome to pose questions. People of all abilities are encouraged to attend. To discuss accommodations, please call 843-849-6161. 

 

Friday, March 20

Classic Cinema Movie Marathon: Women's History Edition (teens and adults)
Dorchester Road Library at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Having Our Say: The Delaney Sisters’ First 100 Years (1999), Not Rated, 100 minutes
Two pioneering African American sisters, Bessie (Ruby Dee), 101 years old, and Sadie (Diahann Carroll), 103 years old, recount the ups & downs of their lives to New York Times journalist Amy Hill Hearth (Amy Madigan) in this true story. Spanning from their childhood in North Carolina at the end of the 19th century to the twilight of their lives in New York more than a century later, "Having Our Say" follows the sisters as they find success and happiness despite overwhelming odds.

How to Make an American Quilt (1995), PG-13, 117 minutes
Soon-to-be-wed graduate student Finn Dodd (Winona Ryder) develops cold feet when she suspects her fiancé is cheating on her. In order to clear her head, Finn visits her grandmother, Hy (Ellen Burstyn), and great aunt, Glady Joe Cleary (Anne Bancroft), in Grasse, Calif. There, Finn learns that Hy and Glady Joe are members of a group of passionate quilters, and over the course of her visit she is regaled with tales of love and life by women who have collected rich experiences and much wisdom.

 

Saturday March 21

Senior Nutrition Presentation
Poe/Sullivan’s Island Library at 12 p.m. 
Join registered dietitian and nutritionist Stephanie Hodges of The Nourished Principles to discuss senior nutrition and health. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Women's Empowerment Expo  
Main Library, Auditorium from 1-5 p.m.  
Join us for an afternoon with community organizations that support women's empowerment. Whether your needs are focused on healthcare, education, civic engagement or all the above, representatives from local organizations will be here to share information and support all women in their ambitions. 

 

Monday, March 23

Make Your Own Ginger Ale (grades 6-12)  
John L. Dart Library at 3:30 p.m.   
Teens prepare freshly made ginger ale with Chef Robin Hollis from local restaurant Basic Kitchen, along with an additional treat of easy to make trail mix. Supplies and space are limited, so participation is first come, first served. 

 

Tuesday, March 24
Candle Making Class
Main Library at 3:30-4:30 p.m. 
Create a personal one of a kind candle with Charleston Candle Co! Each participant will create an 8 oz. candle with 3-4 fragrance oils. To allow cooling time, your candle can be picked up at the library on your next visit. Space is limited, please email [email protected] to register. 

Women’s Empowerment and the Vote 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library at 5:30 p.m.
Join us for an informative history of women’s suffrage efforts; empowerment and future opportunities and challenges – from both a national and local/state perspective. Presented by League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area. 

Empowering Ourselves and Others (Teens and Adults) 
Johns Island Library from 6-7:30 p.m.
What does it mean to empower women? What does it mean to empower others and ourselves? Join us for a powerful workshop with My Sister’s House about creating change and having a positive impact on the lives of others and yourself.    

Charleston Suffragists: Remembering Why They Fought
Main Library 6-7:30 p.m.
The year 2020 marks the centenary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, a moment that marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign to extend the right to vote to women. While many histories of this achievement emphasize the personalities and tactics involved the long political struggle, it's easy to forget the many reasons why women sought to vote. John CCPL's historian, Dr. Nic Butler, for a look at the suffragists of early 20th century Charleston and the various issues that motivated their work.  

 

Wednesdays, March 25

Adult Storytime: “The Emerald Circus” by Jane Yolen 
Main Library from 2-3 p.m.
Join us for the March edition of Adult Storytime with a reading of whimsical short stories from "The Emerald Circus" by Jane Yolen

STEAM Team (Children’s) 
John L. Dart Library at 3:30 p.m.  
Learn about how women around the world are working to provide their communities with clean water in this hands-on filtration activity. 

Small Business Owner Basics  
Main Library at 6-7 p.m. 
Business consultant Jim Wetzel, with Charleston Area Small Business Development Center, will go over small business owner basics to see if you are ready to start a business. Presentation will also include female business owners sharing their real-life experiences and perspectives of starting a business.  

 

Thursday, March 26

Reading Through History Book Club 
Baxter-Patrick James Island Library at 11 a.m. 
“The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd 

 

Saturday, March 28

Book Discussion (adults) 
Dorchester Road Library at 3 p.m. 
Discussion of the novel “The Girls” by Emma Cline. Copies available at the Information desk. An indelible portrait of girls, the women they become, and that moment in life when everything can go horribly wrong. 

 

We have several events happening throughout the month.

MISS MARY MACK: An Homage to Black Girl Nostalgia by Jirah Perkins  
Main Library, Saul Alexander Gallery  
Jirah Perkins is a 23-year old emerging artist in the Lowcountry. She believes that collective work and responsibility are pertinent in creating a cohesive and understanding being. She experiments through different mediums and styles with a focus on empowering and uplifting women. This exhibition is inspired by the children’s singing and clapping game, “Miss Mary Mack”. In African American communities, the many hand games played represented a communal expression of upbringing before the systematic erasure of adolescence. Miss Mary Mack honors the flair, togetherness and unadulterated joy of black girlhood. The First Monday Gallery Night opening reception will be held on March 2 from 6-7 p.m.  

Women’s History Month Trivia (Adults and Teens)
Otranto Library
Complete the daily trivia about notable women in history, for a sweet treat.

Women’s History Month Trivia and Word Games (ages 11 and under)
Otranto Library
Complete weekly worksheets for a sweet treat!

Share Your Shereos (Teens)
Wando Library
Write the name of a woman you admire and why to decorate the teen space for a piece of candy.

Who’s That Lady? (Teens)
Hurd/St. Andrews Library
In celebration of Woman’s History Month, identify the famous lady and win a sweet treat.