Worcester Women’s Suffrage Celebration Wednesday

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester is hosting a series of events this August to commemorate the 100th anniversary of suffrage, and the main event is coming up on Wednesday.

The 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote was added to the Constitution on Aug. 26, 1920. Worcester's main event will feature panel discussions and other events to celebrate the empowerment of women.

Worcester has unique ties to the suffrage movement. The city hosted two major women's rights conventions in the 1850s, according to Worcester Cultural Development Officer Erin Williams.

“Thanks to our location and Worcester’s long history with activism, Worcester County was home to many suffragists, and Worcester was the site of the first two National Women’s Rights Conventions in 1850 and 1851 — 70 years before the passage of the 19th Amendment," Williams said in a news release.

Here's the full list of events, according to a city press release:

Aug. 26. Suffrage100MA will host a virtual commemorative event with speakers including Gov. Charlie Baker, First Lady Lauren Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and more. (Time TBA)

Aug. 26, 7 to 8 p.m. Worcester Women Changemakers: A Celebration of Women’s Equality Day and Suffrage. The program will feature a panel discussion, performances and a series of readings highlighting diverse historical and contemporary voices. All content centers around the Women’s Suffrage Movement, voter registration and activation, female empowerment, and community activism.

Aug. 27, noon. Women at WAM, Highlights from the Collection. In honor of Worcester Women’s Suffrage, the Worcester Art Museum has created a video with highlighting the artwork of women, as well as works of art that celebrate the powerful impact of women on our nation’s history in its collection.

Aug. 27, 6 to 7 p.m. Women of Consequence Award Ceremony. The City of Worcester Advisory Committee on the Status of Women (ACSW) celebrates the 2020 Women of Consequence. These Awards are given in recognition of women who have shown great leadership and tangible results as an agent of change in Worcester. The 2020 Award recognizes Etel Haxhiaj as its Woman of Consequence, and Safiya Nafai as the Youth Woman of Consequence. Worcester Youth Poet Laureate Amina Mohammed will perform, and Boston City Councilor At-Large Julia Mejia will deliver a keynote address.