WEDRAFT 2024 ANNOUNCES NEXT THEME

Each year the Women’s Empowerment Draft strives to deliver creative social media tributes during Women’s History Month, using illustrated portraits, sports jerseys, printed posters and trading cards, and - most importantly - seeking K-12 and college partners to share our enthusiasm.

Like 2020 centered around the centennial of the passing of the 19th Amendment in 1920, the 2024 theme will travel 100 years back to NYC and something called the Civic Club Dinner. This March 21, 1924 dinner was intended to be a book release party for author Jessie Redmon Fauset but became a much bigger celebration of writers, artists, and leaders of a creative movement eventually called the Harlem Renaissance (even though not every emerging artist needed to be living in or from Harlem, NY).

Jessie Redmon Fauset will be one of 30 Women from this movement being honored in our 2024 collaboration. Look for editors, poets, novelists, painters, sculptors, photographers, film makers, fashion designers, librarians, historians, singers, dancers, actors, and playwrights to be honored with our own creative contributions.

In July, college students will research and choose our 30 icons. In August, we will recruit 30 sponsor colleges (or organizations), each selecting which icon to honor. In September, we will find 30 partner K-12 schools, with preference given to “namesake schools” already named for the Women being honored. In October and November, portraits will be designed and in early 2024 a line of colorful tribute jerseys and print materials will be produced. Those interested in being involved in any step are encouraged to contact artforcefive@gmail.com