The celebration of the 178th anniversary of the first Women’s Rights Convention continues Saturday in Seneca Falls with a full day of events highlighting the community’s role in the women’s rights movement.
Activities are part of the annual Convention Days celebration, presented by the Town of Seneca Falls’ Convention Days Committee in partnership with Convention Days, Inc. and Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
Saturday’s schedule begins with the annual Convention Days Luncheon, featuring 101-year-old “Rosie the Riveter” Mary Masciangelo of Rochester and pioneering Olympic boxing coach Gloria “Coach” Peek of Geneva.
At 1 p.m., The Cool Club and the Lipker Sisters will perform a free concert in People’s Park. In the event of rain, the concert will move to the Seneca Falls Community Center.
Throughout the day, Women’s Rights National Historical Park will offer living history programs featuring interpreters portraying Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick Douglass. The Genesee Country Village & Museum will also host a vintage women’s base ball exhibition at noon at the Stanton House on Washington Street.
The afternoon speaker series includes Leah N’tuala, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, who will present “This is What Activism Looks Like” at 2:30 p.m. Attorney, author and women’s rights advocate Nadia Shahram will follow at 3 p.m. with a presentation about her advocacy for women’s rights and her work supporting families affected by war in Iran.
Saturday evening concludes with a free concert by the Diana Jacobs Band from 7 to 9 p.m. in People’s Park.
The celebration concludes Sunday with the Women’s Institute for Leadership & Learning’s annual brunch honoring Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner. Featured speakers include Dr. Julie Bazan, director of operations for the National Women’s Hall of Fame, along with Marilyn Tedeschi and Diana Smith, founding board members of the Women’s Institute for Leadership & Learning.
Convention Days commemorates the July 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, where reformers led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton issued the Declaration of Sentiments, launching the organized women’s rights movement in the United States.
Additional information and a complete schedule of events are available through the Convention Days website.
The celebration concludes Sunday with the Women’s Institute for Leadership & Learning’s annual brunch honoring Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner. Featured speakers include Dr. Julie Bazan, director of operations for the National Women’s Hall of Fame, along with Marilyn Tedeschi and Diana Smith, founding board members of the Women’s Institute for Leadership & Learning.
