March 21, 2017 -- “Women in History,” an Ohio-based nonprofit, visited Roxboro Elementary on March 8 (International Women's Day) to present the life stories of two famous American labor leaders. Helenmary Ball portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt and Anne McEvoy as “Mother” Mary Harris Jones, aided by narrator Linda Witkowsi.
Dressed in authentic period costumes from the late 1800s and 1940s, they amazed the students with their recollections of saving children from the yellow fever epidemic and the great Chicago fire, saving working children from the coal mines, setting up strikes to get fair wages for miners, working tirelessly to get women the right to vote, equality in the workforce and being First Lady of the United States.
The presentations ended with 15 minutes of questions and answers directed at these historic figures. “Why are you wearing an animal around your neck?” “Who inspired you both to do the heroic thing you did?” “Why were you called a troublemaker?” “How did you die?” All these questions were answered in character. Finally, the women invite those who still had questions to write them down and they would be answered via email or by mail.
For more information about this talented troupe of females, visit their website at womeninhistoryohio.com. Stories of the many women these 14 actresses portray as well as their backgrounds can be found there.
This performance by “Women in History” was funded by RoxARTS, whose adult benefit auction will be coming up on May 13 at the B Side in Coventry yard. Donations to the auction may be made by contacting Rosemary Pierce at [email protected] or bringing or sending items in to Roxboro Elementary, 2405 Roxboro Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44106-3699.