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The Miami-Dade County Commission for Women (CFW), celebrated the achievements of women who have made significant contributions to the community by presenting a public exhibit of the 2022 Miami-Dade County Women’s Hall of Fame inductees. The event took place April 10, in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center in Miami. You may watch the event on www.facebook.com/AdvocacyMDC.
Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, and Commissioner Eileen Higgins presented a proclamation featuring this year’s national women’s history month theme: “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” The proclamation highlights the importance of recognizing the vital role that women have played in shaping our history and society. The event captured the spirit of some trailblazing women recognized as the 2022 Women Hall of Fame honorees:
Mary Athalie Range was Miami’s second woman city commissioner and the first woman to head a state agency in Florida.
Roxcy Bolton was a local pioneer for women’s rights. She founded the Miami-Dade chapter of the National Organization for women, championed the ERA, and advocated for the creation of Women’s Equality Day. She was also an advocate for rape victims and helped establish the Rape Treatment Center at Jackson Hospital – the first of its kind in the country which is now named after her.
Mary Brickell was a Miami founder who helped to continue the work of Julia Tuttle in growing Miami as the city it is today.
Annie Coleman organized the Overtown Women’s Club to improve the conditions of Overtown in the 20’s and led projects to pave streets, create parks, and more.
Polita Grau was a Cuban political prisoner and key organizer of the Pedro Pan operation which helped 14,000 Cuban children leave the island.
Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek served in the Florida legislature and the US House of Representatives. Along with two other members, she became the first Black member of Congress from Florida since the Reconstruction era.
Arva Moore Parks McCabe was a historian who was integral in preserving parts of Miami’s history such as the Biltmore Hotel. She was the president of History Miami and is an important part of Miami’s history.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas was an author and environmentalist whose work re-shaped environmental policies protecting the Everglades. Her book, The Everglades: River of Grass redefined the Everglades as a precious resource.
Julia Tuttle: Nicknamed the “mother of Miami,” was the driving force behind founding the City of Miami. She helped convince Henry Flagler to extend his railroad to I Miami – forever changing the course of history for the city.
For more information, please contact Miami-Dade County Commission for Women Director Nina Roque at nina.roque@miamidade.gov or at 305-375-4967. For high resolution photos, email Communications and Media Director for the Office of Community Advocacy Griselle Marino at griselle.marino@miamidade.gov. You may follow Miami-Dade County Commission for Women on Facebook and on Twitter @MiamiDadeWomen.
The Miami-Dade County CFW was created in 1971 as an advisory board to the Board of County Commissioners, the County administration, and the public at large about issues pertaining to the status of women. The Commission for Women also advocates for women in the community and strives to improve their quality of life.
The Commission for Women is one of the 11 advisory boards in the Office of Community Advocacy, a division under the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. The Office is charged with making Miami-Dade County “One Community” that embraces our diverse and unique population. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @AdvocacyMDC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
