The world of humanity is possessed of two wings -- the male and female. So long as these two wings are not equivalent in strength the bird will not fly.

Those words from the Baha’i Writings were the inspiration that led one local woman to believe that women should be given an opportunity to come together to encourage each other and to focus on the progress being made toward strengthening the female wing—to make the bird of humanity fly.

She believed when women come together for just one evening to shine a light on the achievement and progress of women both here and around the world that they would be empowered and inspired in their own lives. That belief led to action in the creation of six consecutive celebrations of International Women’s Day here in Fort Wayne with the help of many other women who shared her belief and passion.

How does inspiration lead to action? Inspiration leads to dreams such as the one of Bolivian President Evo Morales whose second term in office sees half of his government positions going to women. During the inauguration ceremony of the ministers . . . Morales characterized the event as historic saying it was the first time that the Andean nation saw women forming half of the cabinet members to fulfill gender equality. "My great dream has been fulfilled, half of my cabinet are women, the other half men.”

Sometimes one inspiration can lead to another even greater inspiration. In his book, “Three Cups of Tea” Greg Mortensen was initially inspired to climb K2, the world’s second highest mountain, to honor his sister, Christa, who had died. Greg trained hard and made a great but fateful attempt to climb K2 that almost resulted in his death. He was saved by people who had little, materially, but gave him what he needed to nurse him back to health. He was inspired by their kindness and generosity and made a promise to the people to return to build schools for their girls. That was more than twenty years ago. Today, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, there are more than 131 schools in places so remote as to be called “the end of the road”. Girls, the first teachers of the next generation, account for 44,000 of the Star School students. Many of them have gone on to become educators, doctors, and leaders in their community. 

And who cannot be inspired by the story of Lilly Ledbetter?  She worked for more than 19 years as a plant supervisor in a tire factory in Alabama.  Near the time she was to retire someone showed her evidence that during the entire time she had been paid less than 16 other male colleagues.  She fought for her rights (and ours!) all the way to the Supreme Court where her suit was knocked down.  It took a new president, Barack Obama, who was inspired to right a wrong  . . . and as a result the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 was signed into law. . .for all of us. 

This is the 99th year of the International Women’s Day celebration, . .with a century on the horizon. Next year we will reach that horizon and will return to Indiana Tech to commemorate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. We look forward with much anticipation to stories of meaningful progress, positive action, and great deeds. Perhaps some of these deeds of action may well have been inspired by words that you hear tonight. Perhaps it will inspire some of the young people here tonight to climb their own K2 and create a dream that may never have been dreamed of before.

As the poet Mr. Langston Hughes wrote, life for many women “ain't been no crystal stair”. It can be challenging and incredibly hard…discrimination, violence, human trafficking, poverty are too many women’s realities But among women there is also hope, perseverance, determination, grit, joy, and beauty . . . the bringers of inspiration . . . the bringers of life affirming action.