Since Public Law 100-9 was passed in 1987, March has been designated as “Women’s History Month.” Westerville North primarily celebrates the month through activities planned by Feminist Club, which is run by student leaders Ava (‘25) and Arden Heckman (‘26).

Although Feminist Club is about feminism, which is rooted in desiring equal rights for women in particular, according to Ava Heckman, “Feminism is for everybody. Anybody and everybody is welcome at Feminist Club and can be a feminist.”

Throughout the month of March, Feminist Club had organized a display case in the front of the school featuring female activists in areas of conflict including Alejandra Laprea, a woman from Venezuela who sought to stop domestic violence and fought for gender equality; Patricia Nseta, a woman from the Democratic Republic of Congo who provided education opportunities for women and worked with organizations that help victims of sexual violence; Yulia Paievska, a woman from Ukraine who works as a paramedic on the front lines during the ongoing Russia-Ukrainian War and is a human rights activist that organizes protests against Russia; and Shamisa Hosseini from Afghanistan who started underground education circles for women and protests the Taliban through her art.

Additionally, Arden Heckman had been making announcements three to four times per week highlighting women who fit the chosen theme word such as “ingenuity.” All of the theme words could be found at the bottom of the display case set up by Feminist Club. Arden Heckman did the majority of the research herself, spending several weeks on it.

“Everyone contributes to society, but we need a women’s month to remind everybody that women to this day and throughout all of time have helped advance society. We need this month to refocus everyone’s brains on public policy that encourage[s] women’s rights [and] women’s healthcare so we can stay connected to the women around the world,” Ava Heckman said.