How You Can Help
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence Spread Love DC campaign is a unique way to engage young people, advocates and community leaders around raising awareness during this month. To learn more click here
International Day of the Girl Child
On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11th as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
United Nations Day
October 24th has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.
Celebrating Women in October Highlights:
- October 4, 1976 - Barbara Walters becomes the first woman co-anchor of the evening news (at ABC)
- October 4, 1993 - Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins the U.S. Supreme Court as its second woman Justice
- October 8, 1993 - Toni Morrison becomes the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature
- October 11, 1984 - Dr. Kathryn D. Sullivan is the first U.S. woman astronaut to "walk" in space during Challenger flight
- October 23, 1910 - Blanche Stuart Scott is the first American woman pilot to make a public flight
- October 28, 1958 - Mary Roebling is the first woman director of a stock exchange (American Stock Exchange)
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 2001-2019.
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 an official 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 constitues as descrimination against women and was adoped 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.
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
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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).