How You Can Help
Advocacy Days in June
- June 4, International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
- June 19, International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
- June 20, World Refugee Day
Celebrating Women in June Highlights:
- June 1, 1993 - Connie Chung becomes the second woman to co-anchor the evening news, 17 years after Barbara Walters became the first in 1976
- June 9, 1949 - Georgia Neese Clark confirmed as the first woman treasurer of the United States
- June 10, 1963 - Equal Pay Act enacted: "To prohibit discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by employers engaged in commerce or in the production of goods for commerce."
- June 11, 1913 - Women in Illinois celebrate passage of a state woman suffrage bill allowing women to vote in presidential elections
- June 17, 1873 - Susan B. Anthony's trial starts for illegally voting in Rochester, New York on November 5, 1872
- June 20, 1921 - Alice Robertson ((R-Oklahoma) becomes the first woman to chair the House of Representatives
- June 23, 1972 - Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is signed by President Nixon, one of the most important legislation initiatives passed for women and girls since women won the vote in 1920. This legislation guarantees equal access and equal opportunity for females and males in almost all aspects of our educational systems
- June 25, 1903 - Madame Marie Curie announces her discovery of radium
The Zonta Club of Washington, D.C., invites you to join in our various programs, community service, and advocacy activities. Anyone who shares our goal of empowering women through service and advocacy is welcome.
Monthly Educational Programs
Our club members are always looking to learn about issues that impact the welfare and empowerment of women. If you know someone who would be an excellent program speaker, please let us know. Use the Contact Us page to send us your suggestions. See our list of past speakers from 2001-2022.
Support the Greater DC Diaper Bank (GDCDB) program "The Monthly" by becoming a Monthly Champion.
When you buy period products, throw in an extra pack. (Note: Pads are requested far more often than tampons.) Donate those extra products at one of the 160+ drop locations across the region. Or order extra supplies off the GDCDB Amazon Wishlist and they will be delivered directly to GDCB.
Support Kakenya Center - become an Ambassador for the school!
Kakenya Ntaiya, the founder of our service project, Kakenya Center for Excellence (KCE), was a finalist as a 2013 CNN Hero. You can help by being an ambassador for the school. Visit KCE's website www.kakenyasdream.org. Four of Network for Excellence girls were selected to take part in the July 2015 Civil Society meeting with President Obama in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the girls was given the opportunity to address the President. click here
Cities for CEDAW
Our club is a supporter of the United Nations Association - National Capital Area (UNA-NCA) campaign for Cities for CEDAW. CEDAW stands for the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which defines what constitutes as discrimination against women and was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. The Cities for CEDAW campaign focuses on implementing CEDAW at the municipal level as city ordinances. More than 250 U.S. mayors have supported CEDAW resolutions and several have already passed local laws. The long-term goal is to ensure that CEDAW at the local level is integrated in the United nations' sustainable development agenda.
NGO CSW/New York honors Washington DC with Cities for CEDAW Award
The NGO Committee on the Status of Women/New York (NGO CSW/NY) announced that Washington, D.C. has been awarded the recipient of the prestigious Cities for CEDAW Award ordinance, championed by DC Councilmember Robert White and signed into law by Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in March 2023. Ms. Pamela Morgan, co-chair of the NGO CSW/NY and Chair of Zonta International's United Nations Committee presented the award on July 3, 2024.
Recognizing Veterans for their Service
Club members and supporters donated ten patriotic wreaths handcrafted by club members. Seven veterans were recognized for their service to our country with the presentation of a wreath at the 8th Annual Tribute to America's Veterans Concert on November 10, 2016 at the Silver Spring Civic Building. Others were recognized individually with the presentation of a wreath. See photos
Advocacy
Club members Sonya Baskerville and Shaina Egly attend the 2018 event in New York City.
Nearly 70 Zontians from 22 countries represented Zonta in New York at CSW61, where Member States agreed on the need for promoting decent work for women.
Sharing Zonta's vision for gender equality and sustainable development #CSW60 #SDG5
More than 50 Zontians gathered in New York City for the CSW60. This year's theme was women's empowerment and its link to sustainable development with a review of the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls and agreed conclusions from the CSW57.
The 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Zonta International issued a written statement to the Commission. More than 70 Zontians attended this event.
On June 24, 2014, the US Senate Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy, and Global Women's Issues held a hearing titled "Combating Violence and Discrimination Against Women: A Global Call to Action". Zonta International has signed a joint statement to the Subcommittee, joining other NGOs in urging the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to move forward with the ratification of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and passage of IVAWA (International Violence Against Women Act).