Utah Women are Generous
September 2021
This month, we’re featuring Utah women who helped those in need. There are so many it’s hard to pick just a few!
One of the first ways American women entered public life was through charitable organizations. In the early days of the United States, women formed groups to set up orphanages, care for the sick and poor, or fight against slavery. In those groups, women gained valuable experience in public speaking, organizing, and leadership that they would later use to advocate for their own rights. This was also true for many white, middle- and upper-class women in Utah.
Emma McVicker believed in the power of early childhood education. She helped make sure that Utah’s constitution included free public kindergarten. And her organization, now known as Neighborhood House, helped many Utahns in other ways. Neighborhood House trained mothers and teachers, taught English to recent immigrants, and provided free milk and baths for kids. Neighborhood House still provides quality, affordable day care for kids and adults on the west side of Salt Lake City.
Click here to download our September calendar as a PDF. And follow us at @betterdays2020 for stories of more generous Utahns, including:
- Ute leader Chipeta
- Anna Belle Weakley, who ran Ogden’s Porters and Waiters Club
- Mary Nakaishi, the “Angel of 25th Street”