Township council took a portion of its recent meeting to recognize and proclaim March as Women’s History Month in the township.
The month is also celebrated nationally each year to honor, commemorate and acknowledge the vital roles of women in American history.
Women’s History Month had its origins as a national celebrationin 1982, when Congress passed a measure that authorized the president to proclaim the week beginning March 7 as Women’s History Week. In the next few years, legislators continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March to honor women.
In 1987 – after a request from the National Women’s History Project – legislators passed another measure to designate March of 1987 as the first Women’s History Month. Since 1995, U.S. presidents have issued annual proclamations that celebrate the contributions women have made to the country and recognize specific achievements in American history in a variety of fields.
Deputy Mayor Silvia Catalan-Culnan read the township’s proclamation, which also highlights the contributions of area women like Ethel Lawrence and Alice Paul, both residents of Mount Laurel in their time.
“Through leadership, innovation and ingenuity, generations of women have made contributions in the fields of significant contributions in the fields of science, medicine, technology, business, politics, entrepreneurship and arts and culture,” the proclamation noted.
“Women continue to break barriers, lead the fight for justice and social reform and provide healing and hope for our society,” it added. “Trailblazing women in Mount Laurel have played a vital role in our history.”
Lawrence led the effort to create the “Mount Laurel Doctrine,” a historic decision from 1975 that requires New Jersey municipalities to provide realistic opportunities for affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents.
Paul was a leading figure in the women’s suffrage movement and a key contributor to the passing of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote.
The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. For 2026, it is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.” The designation affirms that shaping a sustainable future means fostering systems that support both the people and the planet.
“Please go out there and celebrate the women in your lives, (and) tell them that you appreciate them” Councilwoman Fozia Janjua encouraged at the council meeting. “There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done. It’s 2026 and I was the first female Democratic mayor (in 2024).
“So there really are a lot barriers that still need to be broken.”
