Misty Copeland may have started her career in ballet at a late age, but caught up while facing challenges on all fronts – from family struggles to the color of her skin and even her body type. Copeland met these struggles with the grace that only a ballerina could, and went on to become the first African American principal dancer in one of the most prestigious dance companies in the world. The Beginning, Before Ballet Born in 1982, Misty Copeland grew up in Kansas City, Missouri along with her five siblings. Though described as an anxious child, Copeland idolized Nadia Comaneci and Maria Carey, and would even “perform” at home to Carey’s songs. Life at home was challenging though. Copeland’s mother Sylvia Delacerna engaged in several unsuccessful relationships that at times resulted in the family having to pack up and move. The family moved and settled in San Pedro, California. It was in California that Copeland received her first formal introduction into dance when she joined her middle school’s drill team. Discovering Her Talents Copeland’s drill team coach recognized her knack for dance and recommended Copeland take a dance class at the local Boys & Girls Club with Cynthia Bradley. Soon after, Copeland began regularly taking classes with Bradley at San Pedro Ballet School and even moved in with Bradley in order to be closer to the studio to practice. Two years later, at 15, Copeland competed in the ballet category at the Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Awards and took home first prize. The San Francisco Ballet awarded Copeland a full scholarship for an extensive training program that summer. It seemed as though Copeland’s career was on a role. Family Trouble Following Copeland’s return from the prestigious summer training program, Copeland’s past and present collided. Delacerna, Copeland’s mother, insisted Bradley move home. Though Dalacerna was living at a motel with Copeland’s siblings at the time, Dalacerna still entered into a custody battle with Bradley to get Copeland back. Consequentially, Copeland returned home to San Pedro. Refusing to give up ballet, Copeland pushed forward and continued to fine-tune her skill by practicing at Lauridsen Bellet Center in Torrance, California. Her passion paid off. Once again, in 2000, Copeland received a summer program scholarship, but this time, it was with the famous and influential American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Against the Odds Many professional ballet dancers begin dancing at age 3. Copeland began a decade after this age. Despite her late start, she continued to soar. After completing the summer program with the ABT, Copeland was named the Theatre’s National Coca-Cola Scholar, and she was invited to join the company’s special program for young ballet dancers still in training. Throughout her career, Copeland continued to overcome adversities not just related to her late start and her family, but also related to the color of her skin and her body type. In 2001, Copeland was only one of 80 dancers selected for the ABT’s Corps de Ballet; she was the only African American and fuller figured than her peers. Though at times these differences presented Copeland with difficulties, she was up to the challenge. Copeland’s perseverance and commitment to the art of ballet grew stronger and her excellence and mastery of the art more widely recognized. In 2007, Copeland became a soloist for ABT; this was the first time in two decades an African American female dancer was selected for the role of soloist. In this role she danced in lead roles in titles such as The Firebird (2012) and Swan Lake (2014). Advocate for Others Copeland shared her story and advocated for the diversification of the field of ballet. In 2013, Copeland sat on the advisory committee for the ABT’s Project Plié, a program offered in racially diverse areas as well as Boys & Girls Clubs to provide dance training and mentorship. In 2014, Copeland’s story was published through her memoirs in Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina. Just a year later, the motion continued in full swing; in 2015 Copeland went on to become the first African American principal dancer in the ABT. Copeland continues to inspire young women in all communities – both on and off the stage. -Lisa Zimmermann
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Virginia Woolf became one of the most well known writers of the 20th century. Woolf wrote on a diverse number of subjects, including politics, feminism, history and artistic theory; however, she’s best known for her experimental approach, often utilizing nonlinear story-telling methods, to explore these subjects, and the insights she revealed in using this approach. Her work greatly impacted the course of the Modernist period in literature. Woolf’s Early Years In 1882, Woolf was born into a family of intellect. Sir Leslie Stephen, her father, was an author and historian; he was the first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography. Julia Stephen, Woolf’s mother, was both a model and a nurse -- a profession she later wrote a book about -- with a vast network of artistic and social connections. Along with seven siblings (three full, and four half-siblings), Woolf grew up in a house on Hyde Park Gate in the wealthy London neighborhood of Kensington. However, she spent her summers in a drastically different environment on the Cornwall coast in the beach town of St. Ives. Despite starting out as a cheerful young girl and even starting a newspaper about her family's funny experiences called Hyde Park Gate News, Woolf faced several traumatic events. At six years old, Woolf was sexually abused by her two half-brothers George and Gerald Duckworth. Seven years later in 1895, Woolf lost her mother at age 13. At this point, Woolf stopped writing and fell into depression, a disease she would struggle with for the rest of her life. Before she could make a full recovery, her half sister died in 1897. Though depressed, Woolf studied at the Ladies’ Department of King’s College in London. She took courses in Greek, Latin and German and was introduced to a variety of different people championing feminism and educational reform. This progress halted in 1904 when Woolf’s father died. News of her father’s death devastated Woolf to the point that she was institutionalized for a period following his passing. From Depression to Expression Woolf continued to battle depression and juggled between expressing its depth through her literary work and falling into personal despair. In 1910, Woolf was in her early twenties when she met members of the Bloomsbury Group; she participated in this group of intellectual’s hoax to pose as Ethiopian royals and convince the British Royal Navy to show them the HMS Dreadnought, a navy warship. Soon after the successful prank, Woolf and Leonard, one of the group’s writers, began dating, and in 1912, the couple married. In 1915, nine years after she began writing it, Woolf published her first novel The Voyage Out. In the book, she used unusual methods and experimented by making use of free association prose and dream states. Woolf continued writing and pushing the bubble through experimentation, and in 1925 she released Mrs. Dalloway. This was Woolf’s fourth novel and it received high praise. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Woolf’s approach to the novel “as patterned as a Post-Impressionist painting but is also so accurately representational that the reader can trace [the characters] movements through the streets of London on a single day in June 1923.” Woolf makes use of knitting together the characters internal monologues in order to raise issues such as mental illnesses and feminism. Two years later, Woolf published To The Lighthouse, where she drew upon memories from her childhood summers on the coast to create many of the story’s scenes. Into her forties, Woolf continued to publish not just novels, but also letters and essays as well as speak at universities and colleges. Woolf’s original thinking and unique writing style earned her respect from her peers. Death on the Verge of War Despite her literary successes, Woolf continued to combat depression. Following Woolf and Leonard’s London home being destroyed in the London blitz and Woolf’s fear that Leonard, who was Jewish, would be captured by the Nazis, Woolf put stones into her coat pockets, walked into the River Ouse and committed suicide in 1941. Her final work, Between the Acts, was published posthumously. Lasting Impact “I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman.” -- Virginia Woolf. Woolf’s contributions to literature and society did not end with her death. Her writing influenced feminist movements that occurred decades later in the 1970s, not to mention the generations of writers that came after her. Woolf’s literary contributions helped pave the road for women thinkers to step out from the label “anonymous” and onto the intellectual stage for recognition. By Lisa Zimmermann Known for rolling up her sleeves and doing her part during the American Revolution, Molly Pitcher not only tended to the medical and washing needs of soldiers in battle, she even jumped in to take over operating heavy weaponry. Molly’s bravery transformed her into a symbol and a story showcasing women's’ efforts during the United States’ fight for independence. Early Life Molly Pitcher was born Oct. 13, 1754 to the name Mary Ludwig. Though Molly was a popular nickname for Mary at the time, her second nickname came only after she pitched into the American colonists’ efforts during the American Revolution. After growing up near Trenton, New Jersey, Mary moved to Carlisle, Pennsylvania where she met a local barber named William “John” Hayes. The two later married a year later in 1769, just seven years before colonies declared independence from Great Britain. Wartime Efforts When the Revolutionary War broke out, Hayes joined the war efforts as a gunner for the Continental Army. During this time, it was not uncommon for soldiers’ wives to stay nearby, even on the battlefield, to assist. At Valley Forge, Molly along with other women, like Martha Washington, did their parts by washing clothes and attending to the sick and injured. In 1778, while the men practiced training drills, Molly served as a water carrier. Molly’s participation in training paid off on the battlefield. At the Battle of Monmouth, she earned her nickname “Molly Pitcher” due to her tireless efforts and dedication to bring soldiers pitchers of water during the battle. The battle was fought on a scorching hot day, but as long as the men battled, Molly continued to return again and again to the spring near by, fill her pitcher with fresh water and bring to soldiers. The soldiers not only needed water to quench their own thirsts during the fight, but also, water was essential in keeping their cannons cool on this hot day. However, supplying water was not all Molly did during the Battle of Monmouth. When Molly saw her husband fall down, she took Hayes’ spot manning his cannon. Not missing a beat, Molly stood her post through the battle. In his memoirs, Continental Army soldier Joseph Plumb Martin wrote the following, which is believed to have been about Molly: "A woman whose husband belonged to the artillery and who was then attached to a piece in the engagement, attended with her husband at the piece the whole time. While in the act of reaching a cartridge and having one of her feet as far before the other as she could step, a cannon shot from the enemy passed directly between her legs without doing any other damage than carrying away all the lower part of her petticoat. Looking at it with apparent unconcern, she observed that it was lucky it did not pass a little higher, for in that case it might have carried away something else, and continued her occupation." Molly’s bravery won her more than just the nickname, Molly Pitcher, but also a second nickname of Sergeant Molly, after George Washington honored Molly by naming her a non commissioned officer through the issue of an official warrant. Molly became a symbol of women’s wartime efforts during the fight for American Independence. Later Life After the war, Molly went back to Pennsylvania and had a son with Hayes. However, just three years later in 1786, Hayes died. Molly went on to remarry a war veteran named John McCauley in 1793. Though reportedly an unhappy marriage, Molly’s wartime efforts were not forgotten. The Pennsylvania legislature honored Molly in 1822 for her services, giving her an award of $40 per year for the rest of her life; however, most of Molly’s other recognitions came postmortem. Molly died in 1832 in Carlisle. A monument honoring her wartime service marks her place of rest. In 1928, the U.S. Postal Service created a Molly Pitcher stamp and during World War II her name was honored on the Liberty Ship SS Molly Pitcher. Additionally, today, drivers will find that part of US Route 11 is also known as Molly Pitcher Highway. - Lisa Zimmermann Dorothea Dix was an 18th century educator and social reformist. Though born into a struggling family without much money, Dix went on to champion for the mentally ill and prisoners as well as female nurses during the Civil War. Her efforts resulted in international reform Early on In 1802, Dorothea Dix was born in Maine to Joseph Dix, a constantly traveling Methodist preacher who struggled with alcoholism and depression. Despite this, Joseph taught his daughter to read and write -- skills Dix remained passionate about throughout her life. When Dix reached the age of 12, she moved to Massachusetts. First living in Boston with her grandmother, followed by living with her aunt in Worcester. At 14, Dix began to teach and three years later, in 1819, she founded Dix Mason, a girls school in Boston. Only a teenager, Dix created her own curriculum, continued to write and, in 1824, she published her most well known textbook, Conversations of Common Things. Helping the Mentally Ill In 1841, Dix started teaching Sunday school at a women’s prison in East Cambridge. Appalled by the treatment of prisoners, especially those who were mentally ill, Dix set out to do something. She witnessed prisoners not only living without heat, but also saw brutally violent acts such as flogging, whipping and chaining. Impassioned to change their situations, Dix presented her findings and argued with the Massachusetts legislature for reform. As a result, additional budget was granted to the state’s mental hospital. But Dix didn’t stop with reforms in Mass. She went on to campaign for change in multiple states like New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Indiana as well as in Europe. Civil War Service Dix was appointed Superintendent of Women Nurses in 1861. In the role, she managed setting up Union Army field hospitals, overseeing and recruiting an immense staff and more. Dix was the first federally appointed woman to serve such a role. Dix’s efficiency was appreciated, but the rigid manner in which she conducted business conflicted with other nurses and military leaders. As a result, in 1863, Dix was relieved of her duties. Later Life Post Civil War, Dix continued advocating for others and remained a steadfast champion for the mentally ill. In 1887, Dix contracted malaria and died at 85 years old in a Trenton, New Jersey hospital she helped establish 40 years prior. Dix once wrote, “I think even lying on my bed I can still do something.” And, it’s clear, Dix never let sleep get in the way; her steadfast work ethic and passion to help others served as a catalyst for paramount reforms. ~Lisa Zimmermann Ebby Halliday started as a women’s clothing sales girl, but she became one of the first successful female entrepreneurs in Dallas, Texas. She not only started a real-estate company that grew into a multi billion dollar business, but also became a beloved figure in Dallas, Texas. Thought of as the “First Lady of Dallas,” Halliday spent her life giving back to the community where she resided. In the beginning Halliday was born in 1911 in Arkansas with the name Vera Lucille Koch. Her name did not stick though. Early on in her career, one of Halliday’s supervisors at a women’s department store suggested that “Ebby Halliday” was a name more likely for advancement. And advance she did. From “Hats to Houses” After Halliday finished high school in 1929 in Abilene, Kansas, she started selling hats for $10 a week at The Jones Store in Kansas City. Within a year, Halliday was the top salesperson. Halliday went on to become hat department manager at W.A. Green Store. This promotion is responsible for bringing Halliday to Dallas in 1938. Halliday’s sales success led her to open her own boutique, “Ebby’s Hats,” in Dallas. As the story goes, oil magnate and Dallas politician Clint Murchison witnessed Halliday’s knack for sales and so he passed a message -- more of a friendly suggestion -- to Halliday through his wife one day. The message? If Halliday could sell hats, then perhaps she could also sell houses. Halliday heeded this advice and transitioned her talents from selling hats to homes. In 1945 in Dallas, Texas, she began her second business: Ebby Halliday Realtors. Growing Together As the southern city expanded, so too did Halliday’s business. Halliday shared her success by encouraging and empowering hundreds of women, whom she believed were “naturals” in the business. In 1965, Halliday married former FBI agent Maurice Acers, who stood by her side until his death in 1993. Halliday continued to go to work every day. In 2014, Ebby Halliday Realtors employed more than 1,700 people, according to The Dallas Morning News. Not only did Halliday inspire business women and help them begin their careers, but she also donated to multiple charities. At 101 years old, she made a 3-year financial commitment to Dallas Baptist University. Halliday kept her commitment. In 2015, exactly three years later, Halliday passed away at the age of 104. The myriad of people who attended her funeral represent only a fraction of the number of lives she touched over more than a century. In fact, at her funeral, loved ones and those who admired the business woman -- including former First Lady Laura Bush -- rose and gave Halliday a standing ovation as they said goodbye. Halliday’ business and memory live on in the communities she lived and in the lives of the many woman she empowered along the way. -- Lisa Zimmermann Full disclosure: This author’s step-grandmother was one of the many woman whom Halliday employed and inspired. This author once met Halliday and heard stories about how her remarkable career began by selling hats. |
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