Reflecting on the 105th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment

Just two days ago, our nation celebrated the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution: a historic milestone for American Democracy. Women received the constitutional right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment on August 26, 1920, which came after decades of tireless organizing and sacrifice. While we celebrate that hard-fought victory for women in 1920, it is important to acknowledge that victory had limitations. Many women, particularly Black, Native, Asian, and Latina women, continued to challenge multiple barriers to the ballot box, some for decades after 1920. Also, to varying degrees, some of those same barriers and challenges live on today.

While this anniversary means many things, for me, it is about making connections from the past to the work I do today. As the state's leading advocate for purpose-driven civic engagement in schools and communities, I see almost daily examples of the need for ballot access, the untimely use of voter suppression tactics as a means of silencing voices, and the importance of civic education and outreach to build an inclusive democracy. When I assist a student in signing up to vote, or when I am collaborating with a parent and assisting them through the process of registering their child to vote, I am continually reminded that the legacy of the Nineteenth Amendment remains alive and well in those small, daily examples of engagement and empowerment.

I also think of the anniversary in a deeply personal way. I think of women like Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell, who worked not only for women's suffrage but who sought justice with their work for racial justice. Their capacity to fight and win also allows me to be in the gap today and to create understanding of power and voice for more people in communities around the state. Their courage strengthens my work, and my work is my way to honor them and their legacy.

The 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment is part celebration, but it is also an obligation to safeguard what has been won and demand more so that every citizen, regardless of race, gender, or background, can easily access the ballot. It also deserves a reminder that democracy gets stronger when we show up, when we involve our children in the work, and when we show up and continue the work in the spirit of tribute to those who made us stronger.