Long Beach City College celebrated the beginning of Women’s History Month in the LAC T building on Wednesday Mar. 3, sharing women’s stories with speeches, food and other resources.
Upon entering the event, students were welcomed into the T building where chairs and tables were set up to enjoy the food and speeches organized by the school’s faculty.
Students and staff all lined up for the different food options between the chicken and jasmine rice to the fried plantains and grilled vegetables.
Many people gathered around to listen to the empowering speeches from poet Angela Aguirre and filmmaker Jessica Law. As well as LBCC staff, Vanessa Crispin Peralta and Board of Trustees President, Herlinda Chico, who is also the first Mexican American woman to be elected in her role at LBCC.
Aguirre spoke powerfully over the celebration of women and the importance of sharing their stories. She presented to attendees some of her poems such as “Dear Angela” and poem “Chingona.”
“In my world, being empowering and raw is a defense to protect the softer side,” Aguirre said, introducing a vulnerable side of herself to the audience while reading “Dear Angela.”
“Something I said could make them feel empowered to stay here another day. That is why I like to do the Dear Angela poem because I know what people think of me, they look at me and the way I dress and must think I’m powerful all the time and that is so far from the truth.” she said.
Students and staff were engaged with the speakers, their faces illuminated during every speech and clapping after every speaker.
Law spoke of her immigrant ethnic background and the importance it has played in her life, as well as the generations of women in her family who have also motivated her.
Students were also able to further engage with Law with a Q-and-A held during her speech where students asked questions about women empowerment.
“I think being a woman is such a unique experience because we are so powerful but I think culturally and socially we were told to be smaller, so it’s cool to see female and women voices rising,” Law said.
This was just the beginning to the celebrations, as LBCC will be hosting other events to commemorate Women’s History Month.