NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Nacogdoches community members and Stephen F. Austin State University faculty, staff and students are invited to the seventh annual International Women’s Day Teach-in from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15 in the McGee Business Building, Room 133, and via Zoom.  

SFA’s Organization for Women’s Leadership and Equity is hosting the event. Because the university will be closed for spring break on the official International Women’s Day set for March 8, OWLE members are hosting the teach-in one week later. 

“This event is important because we need to stand on the belief that equal opportunities are not enough,” said Dr. Ginny Love Watkins, clinical instructor in SFA’s Department of Education Studies. “We need to embrace equity. I hope that attendees delve deeper into challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias when they see it, and seeking inclusion in all areas.”

The teach-in was established as a local alternative to the nationwide A Day Without a Woman strike in 2017, which was held on International Women’s Day. Akin to a sit-in, the teach-in allows a time to address anything about women and gender. 

Topics for this year’s teach-in include female artists fighting for recognition, women and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, women commemorating COVID-19, women’s health initiatives, public education advocacy at the state level, organizing to combat book censorship, personal finances, and recent advances in mathematics by women. 

The OWLE has partnered with the Lumberjack Express, SFA’s quick-service mobile food lab, to offer lunch to attendees for $9 per meal. Lumberjack Express will be parked near Surfin’ Steve between the Ferguson and McKibben Education buildings on Raguet Street from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attendees also are welcome to bring their own lunch. 

Those interested in attending must preregister at bit.ly/teachin2023.

For more information, contact Watkins at ginnywatkins@sfasu.edu.