March Sparks Ignite 4 Women, Music Education, Brain Injury +

March sparks ignite for Women’s History, Music Education, Brain Injury, Nutrition and a host of other important health, education and social causes this month.

Women’s History Month celebrates women and their accomplishments. Their tagline is “our history is our strength.” This year’s theme: “Valiant Women of the Vote.” The theme honors “the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others.”

The National Women’s History Alliance annually honors outstanding women that have shaped America’s history and our future. The 2020 Honorees were selected for their unrelenting and inspirational persistence in fighting all forms of discrimination against women and girls. These women refused to be silenced and their lives demonstrate the power of voice, of taking action, and of believing that meaningful and lasting change is possible in our democratic society.

The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

While the concept began in the 1970s, it wasn’t until 1980 when President Jimmy Carter declared a proclamation. By 1987, the advocacy efforts came to fruition when Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: March 8th is the annual INTERNATIONAL WOMAN’S DAY — A global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Socially Sparked News will have more details on the upcoming March 8th events leading up to the Day, so stay tuned.

Music In Our Schools Month (MIOSM®) is the annual celebration during March which engages music educators, students and communities from around the country in promoting the benefits of high quality music education programs in schools.

This year’s theme is ‘Music Changes Lives.” Now in it’s 35th year, MIOSM is organized by National Association for Music Education (NAFME), among the world’s largest arts education organizations and the only association that addresses all aspects of music education.

“Every day, in classrooms and rehearsal rooms across America, music educators bring that theme to life. And we know from ongoing testimonials that those connections have a profound and positive effect on students and on entire communities,” — Michael J. Blakeslee, NAfME Executive Director and CEO

At a time when funding for the arts and school funding for arts programs looms large, advocacy initiatives like MIOSM could not be more important than now.

State music education associations are conducting their own advocacy days this spring at state capitols to support music education for all students. Ensembles are performing at their state capitols and local communities to demonstrate the importance of music education.

Brain Injury Awareness Month – The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) leads the nation in observing the month by conducting an awareness campaign in March each year.

The theme for the 2018 to 2020 campaign is Change Your Mind. This campaign provides a platform for educating the general public about the incidence of brain injury and the needs of people with brain injuries and their families. The campaign also lends itself to outreach within the brain injury community to de-stigmatize the injury, empower those who have survived, and promote the many types of support that are available.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) was founded in 1980. It is the oldest, largest and only nationwide brain injury advocacy organization in the U.S. BIAA is the voice of brain injury and provides help, hope and healing for the millions of Americans who sustain this life-altering, sometimes devastating, injury.

March sparks ignite for many other awareness initiatives this month including for Colorectal Cancer and Nutrition.

March 1st: World Zero Discrimination Day

March 2nd: Read Across America Day & Dr. Seuss Day

March 3rd: World Wildlife Day

March 8th: International Women’s Day

March 20th: Brain Injury Awareness Day

March 21st: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 22nd: World Water Day

March 8 – 14: National Sleep Awareness Week

March 30 – April 3: National Youth Violence Prevention Week

There are many social and health issues and awareness initiatives that have Socially Sparked® our lives around the world. The growing unrest in the United States and Internationally on some of our most pressing issues as gun violence, cancer, equality, the environment and more underscores the importance of continuing to raise awareness and advocate for reform and permanent solutions and cures. — We are forever Socially Sparked! Happy March! Tweet us @sosparkednews & @asparks01

*This story has been updated to reflect 2020.