The Pro-Active Alliance, a grassroots civic engagement group in the Wasatch Back, is teaming up with the area’s League of Women Voters chapter to host a celebration honoring the 105th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
The event will be held on Monday from 5 to 7:45 p.m. at Rotary Park in Park City.
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, prohibited states from denying the right to vote based on sex, marking a pivotal victory for women’s equality. Organizers said the celebration will pay tribute to the suffragettes whose determination, sacrifice and vision transformed American democracy, while also serving as a reminder that voting rights must continue to be protected and expanded.
“We wanted to celebrate what we have, how far we’ve come,” said Susan Odell, one of the Pro-Active Alliance’s leaders, “but also with the cautionary tale of, let’s not let it slip and let’s make sure we keep marching forward and expanding voting rights, not contracting them.”
The celebration is one of many initiatives the Pro-Active Alliance has organized since forming earlier this year. The group’s six-member leadership team came together in March, motivated by a shared frustration with political developments they felt threatened democratic values and quality of life.
“We kind of felt helpless, so we wanted to put together an organization to activate people, to provide opportunities for conversation, ways to get involved, be informed, talk to your senators, your representatives and your local elected officials about things that matter,” said Odell. “Not only to us as individuals, but also to the community as a whole.”
What started as informal conversations quickly evolved into a series of meetups and events aimed at helping people stay informed, engage in dialogue, and take tangible actions on issues affecting their communities.
“People come from all walks of life and they always have something to add,” Odell said.
The Alliance now hosts monthly meetings with guest speakers and regular meetups to discuss a variety of topics.
New traditions have also sprouted like weekly Sunday meetups at Hugo Coffee for postcard-writing sessions, where participants send messages to elected officials about timely issues, from protecting public lands to supporting inclusive policies and more, said Odell.
“Even if I’m writing postcards and I’m not getting responses, if I call my local representatives and I don’t get a response — though I often do,” said Odell, “you feel like you’re making your voice heard.”
While the Alliance initially envisioned itself as a women-only organization, most of its events are open to everyone. There’s no formal membership structure, instead, interested individuals can sign up for the group’s email list on their website, which has grown to more than 350 subscribers so far. The upcoming suffragette celebration reflects that group’s mission of informing, inspiring and connecting the community.
On Monday, attendees are encouraged to dress as a suffragette or wear white in honor of the women who fought for the right to vote. The program will feature a short presentation on the history of the suffrage movement, remarks from Park City Mayor Nann Worel, the city’s first female mayor, and comments from activist and U.S. Senate candidate Caroline Gleich.
Live music, a costume contest, art projects, lawn games and a community potluck will round out the evening. Beverages, plates, utensils and napkins will be provided, and a suggested donation of $10 will help cover event costs. Space is limited, so RSVPs are required and can be done so through the Pro-Active Alliance website.
By honoring the women who fought for the right to vote, the Alliance and the League of Women Voters hope to inspire attendees to stay engaged, whether that means registering new voters, learning about local issues, or simply showing up on Election Day, Odell said.
“You can’t save the whole world, but maybe we can save a few things here and there along the way, and that’s what keeps me going,” she said, adding that while not everyone is fully aligned in their political views, common ground is still shared.
“We all want the same thing,” she said. “We want to live a good life and have a better life for our children, grandchildren, whatever else, and try to not slip back into times where people were discriminated against in much bigger ways than they are today. We certainly still have a long way to go, but let’s not lose the ground that we’ve already made.”
For more information or to RSVP for the celebration, visit proactivealliance.org.