A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters in Minnesota Traveling Exhibit

Description

A new traveling exhibit, A Century of Civic Engagement: League of Women Voters in Minnesota, will open at the Lyon County Museum, 301 W Lyon St, Marshall on Monday, March 1. The exhibit will run through March 31. The 12 panel exhibit will be located in the conference room on the 2nd floor of the museum. Museum hours are Monday-Friday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Saturday 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. For more information, contact the museum at 507-537-6580. To celebrate the 19th Amendment’s centennial year, LWV Minnesota created a traveling exhibit to recognize the organization’s mission and history over the past century. Exhibit visitors will discover that: “Growing from the deep roots of the suffrage movement in the 19th century, Minnesota’s non-partisan League of Women Voters uses a statewide network of local chapters to encourage informed and active participation in government, register, and empower voters, work to increase understanding of public policy issues, cultivate women leaders, and influence public policy through education and advocacy.” The Minnesota Legislature finally voted YES on September 8, 1919 to ratify the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, granting women the right to vote and ending the 72-year struggle for woman suffrage. But as distinguished Minnesota suffragist Clara Ueland said that day, "Today is the commencement rather than the end of our work." The League of Women Voters Minnesota was born, with Ms. Ueland as its first President, to help carry out the new work of empowering voters and defending democracy, with women now at the table – and in the voting booth. One hundred years later, LWV Minnesota continues to thrive as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization promoting good government and civic engagement throughout Minnesota. Come visit this vibrant exhibit that features Minnesota's suffrage story, highlighting the women who made it happen – and who continue to lead through the League of Women Voters to make democracy work for all.