Heritage

Maryland Women’s Heritage Center History & Overview

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center MWHC is a joint initiative of the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Commission for Women. MWHC, a 501c3 non-profit organization provides a place to teach and learn about the contributions of Maryland women throughout our state’s history. It is the first state center of its kind in the nation.

Goals

1. Promote and educate about the value of women’s contributions, struggles and achievements.
2. Provide opportunities for visitors to explore critical issues impacting women through interactive exhibits, stories, living history programs, symposiums, forums and workshops.
3. Provide ongoing dialogues, seminars, performances and women’s issue forum events.
4. Highlight the resilience of women in coping with adversity and overcoming barriers.
5. Help our children gain a better appreciation and understanding of the contributions of women past, present and future. The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center will incorporate lessons from the past to inspire today and future generations of female leaders.

Mission

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center is the first state center in the nation that teaches about the often unknown contributions of Maryland women. The Heritage Center will bring people together for enjoyment, discovery, and learning. We strive to create a place where people of every background can be touched by the contributions and legacy of Maryland’s Women. We are committed to preserving the past, understanding the present and shaping the future through exhibits and programs that recognize, respect and transmit the experiences and contributions of Maryland Women of diverse backgrounds, and regions.

Vision

The Heritage Center is a place where visitors will gain a better understanding of the struggles and challenges encountered by women in the past. By breathing life into information and artifacts which reflect the roles and achievements of Maryland Women from every part of the state, from a wide range of cultural and economic backgrounds and from every field of endeavor. This information will be linked to knowledge, hope and legacy that allow young man and women to explore the issues impacting women today, examine the problems and seek solutions for the future.

Experiences

1. The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center provides programs that teach young women strategies to improve their living status, and guide them to seek educational and improved career opportunities.
2. The Heritage Center develops programs to help young people understand and appreciate the roles of women in their lives and the greater society, thus gaining a greater respect for women.
3. The Heritage Center will provide meeting space for special events and performances. Also it is a forum to host symposiums for adult audiences to address women’s history and current issues.
4. The Heritage Center will provide hands-on interactive learning experiences to help students and visitors learn and understand about women’s history and the importance of women’s contributions to the history of our state and nation.
5. The Heritage Center’s programs and exhibits reflects the experiences of our target audience. We are telling their stories.

 
MARYLAND WOMEN’S HERITAGE CENTER

For more information contact:

Maryland Commission for Women 
Ellie Elgin - eelgin@dhr.state.md.us

The Maryland State Department of Education 
Linda Shevitz - lshevitz@msde.state.md.us 

The Maryland Women’s History Project 
Jill Moss Greenberg - mwhcjill@comcast.net
MWHC website - www.mdwomensheritagecenter.org

If you would like to make a donation, please make checks payable to:

The Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (MWHC)
P.O. Box 719
Brooklandville, MD 21022-0719.