Introducing the Women’s History Month Series: This will be the first in a series of four articles honoring Women’s History Month and celebrating the contributions of women to historic and modern Fredericksburg. Today, we will be highlighting local, active organizations and groups whose primary purpose is to empower women through networking and building relationships with other women.
This list is by no means exhaustive and excludes professional, licensure-based associations, as well as church or denomination-specific groups. Nor does it recommend services such as gynecological care, hair/beauty salons, etc. If you would like to feature your women-owned business, email us.
What is Women’s History Month?
“Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28, which 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 Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as ‘Women’s History Month.’ Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year 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.”
- Statement by 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, 2022
What is the theme of Women’s History Month 2022?
The theme for 2022 is Providing Healing, Promoting Hope: “a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic, and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.”
Women’s Organizations & Groups in the Fredericksburg Region
The Mom Squad of Fredericksburg (2.9k members) This group features a monthly calendar of playdates at local parks; a sizable and active yard sale and trading subgroup (nearly 800 members strong), and; other family-friendly and seasonal events, including: an upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Craft Playdate on Wednesday, March 16th from 11 am to 1 pm EST in Kenmore Park, 1401 Kenmore Ave., Fredericksburg, VA 22401; and a Parisian-themed ‘Mom Prom’ charity fundraiser on Saturday, April 9th from 7 pm to 11 pm EST at the Jepson Alumni Executive Center at UMW, 1119 Hanover St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
FredMoms FREE/TRADE (3.9k members) For moms in the Fredericksburg region to either gift, donate, or barter/exchange household items. No monetary exchanges allowed or expected.
Dinner with Friends - A 500 member offshoot of the Taste of Fredericksburg for ladies to socialize and meet new friends at the region’s culinary establishments, wineries, breweries, and distilleries.
Non-Traditional Book Club - This book club is non-traditional insofar as instead of everyone reading and discussing the same book, each member can share a book of her choosing and meet new friends over dinner and conversation. The next meeting will be on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 6-8 pm EST at Bravo! Italian Kitchen, 1 Towne Center Blvd. Ste 3500, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. The book club is one of many events hosted by the Girls Night Out Squad, a 1.3k member strong meetup based in Stafford, VA but enthusiastic to organize events anywhere in northern Virginia. Proudly self-described as “not just your average girls’ club, but a group of FUN, EXCITING, AMAZING, FABULOUS, BADASS women!”
The Friendship Mixers Fredericksburg/Richmond Chapter promotes opportunities for ladies - especially introverts! - to forge healthy and empowering friendships. Upcoming events include a visit to Mattaponi Winery, 7530 Morris Rd., Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at 12 pm EST; a virtual seminar on Managing Student Loan Debt with Dr. Tisa Silver Canady on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 7 pm EST; and an online book discussion of lessons to be learned from Rich Dad, Poor Dad on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 6:30-7:30 pm EST.
Wine, Women and Wealth - Nation’s Capital and beyond Hosted by Five Rings Financial, this group is part networking, part financial education, and part girls-night-out for women in Fredericksburg and in the greater northern VA region. Enjoy a bite to eat, try some fantastic wines, and mingle with some amazing women at monthly events throughout northern Virginia. Most recently, the group met at Park Lane Tavern in Spotsylvania Towne Centre on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 to discuss retirement options. Next in-person meeting TBD. Alternatively, feel free to get cozy in your jammies with your favorite glass (or bottle haha!) of wine and tune into a free virtual event from the comfort of your home. Upcoming virtual events include: Wine, Women, and Wealth - Online Edition on Friday, March 18, 2022 from 7-8:30 pm EST, and; a Money 101 Online Workshop on Monday, March 21, 2022 from 7:30-8:45 pm EST.
League of Women Voters of the Fredericksburg Area - will be hosting a presentation on ‘The History of Suffragist Women in Fredericksburg’ on March 10, 2022 from 6:30-7:45 pm EST at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library Fredericksburg Branch, 1201 Caroline St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Inspired by Mary Ball - a Fredericksburg resident and the mother of President George Washington and his sister, Betty Washington Lewis - the Mary Ball Woman’s Club is a “local club for women who are dedicated to improving the Fredericksburg community through charity and good will.” The club was founded as a chapter of the Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg in June 1962. In April 1964, the club became an independent organization federated by the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs (VFWC) and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), the largest independent group of women volunteers in the world (for more information about the Fredericksburg branch, please visit the Woman’s Club of Fredericksburg FB page). Honoring the motto of ‘Unity in Diversity,’ members come together the fourth Wednesday of every month as unique individuals dedicated to community improvement through conservation, education, fine arts, home life, and public affairs.
The Spotsylvania County Women’s Group (46 members small but mighty!) is a meetup to bring women from diverse walks of life together to participate in memorable events and fun activities such as movie nights, bowling, happy hours, etc. in the region. The next event will be bowling on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 6-8 pm EST at Splitsville Bowling, 51 Towne Centre Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407.
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) was founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune, a child of enslaved parents, distinguished educator, and government consultant. Her vision was to harness the power and extend the leadership of African-American women through a national organization rooted in community, unity, and self-reliance. NCNW fulfills its mission through research, advocacy, national, and community-based services and programs in the United States and Africa. Headquartered in Washington D.C.,with 28 national affiliate organizations and more than 200 community-based sections, the NCNW now has an outreach to nearly four million women. Learn more about the Stafford-Fredericksburg chapter via its website and/or FB page.
The Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. is a national humanitarian organization for Black ladies committed to “transforming lives and making a difference, one teen, one lady, and one community at a time.” Its programs seek to make a positive impact in the lives of youth; address critical issues in the community; enhance the overall quality of life; equip community members with the proper tools; and leave a legacy of volunteerism. These programs include Top Teens of America, whose purpose is to “develop positive and assured teens and to empower and train them to become effective leaders;” as well as initiatives and community partnerships with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the NCNW, and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to support the status of women, senior citizens, and community beautification. Its local chapters are based in Stafford County and Central Virginia, respectively.
FXBG/Spotsy LGBT (318 members) A warm and welcome place for conversation and events exploring, nurturing, and celebrating all identities and orientations in the Fredericksburg region.
LGBTQ+ of Virginia (3.5k members) welcomes the LGBTQ+ community and their allies living anywhere in the state of Virginia.
LGBTQ+ of the DC Metro Area (7.7k members) caters to the DC area LGBTQ+ community but welcomes anyone from Baltimore, MD to Richmond, VA.
**the author and publisher do not personally endorse any of these groups
