amazing women

Skirt was the first in the Boston area to tell readers about the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s female conductor, Shi-Yeon Sung – last year.

 (Shannon Power photo)

Suddenly, this week, I’m hearing about her all over the place... because NPR and the Globe have “discovered” that the BSO has this surprise tucked away....

well, duh!

 That’s the best part of skirt! – discovering and celebrating all of the cool, amazing women in the area, a handful at a time. It makes me squirm to wait and reveal just three or four a month when I want to wave them in everyone’s faces RIGHT NOW.

Writing for skirt! has made me realize that, in fact, so much of the mainstream media is male-focused while women are often in the background, still, making sure the machinery continues to crank...

Fortunately, the next couple months are shaping up to be real eye-openers in terms of recognizing the contributions of women to the arts, business, and culture of the area.

• around May 1, skirt! will publish our “Shero” edition, with profiles  of reader-nominated local women who absolutely deserve our admiration for the way they’ve lived their lives;

• on May 2, the Simmons College Women’s Leadership Conference is set for the Seaport World Trade Center, with a stellar line-up of national women leaders offering advice and guidance on careers and navigating life;

• on May 6, women in Lowell will gather at Lowell Memorial Auditorium to enjoy fashions and support the Women Working Wonders Fund, which provides grants to women furthering their lives, from transitional living situations to leadership programs;

• on May 8, the amazing Candy O’Terry celebrates women she’s interviewed on her Magic 106.7 radio show, Exceptional Women, with an awards luncheon at the Westin Copley Place (the show is available on podcasts)... remind me to bring tissues, OK?

• on May 12, a new networking and mentoring group dedicated to the success of local women kicks off. Called Tomorrow’s Women Today, organizer Lauren Pimpare says “this is not your martinis and manicures type of women’s group” ... indeed, they’re vetting prospective members to better match mentors with up-and-coming business women...

• the next day, May 13, the state Commission on the Status of Women applauds those behind the scenes with their annual Unsung Heroine Awards at the State House...

...and that’s only the first half of the month..

Fortunately, when all of this hoopla has passed and the women of the Boston area go back to just holding the universe on our shoulders, skirt! will still be here, highlighting a few at a time.

We’re always open to suggestions – women who should be recognized for their work and dedication – as well as the men who stand out for their feMENist traits (that’s coming in July!). Drop me a line: alisonm@skirtboston.com.