August 23 Is Officially ‘Girl Power Day’ In Boston and Menino Has the Pen to Prove It

Photo via @MayorTomMenino

Taking a title straight from a Spice Girls book from the late nineties, Mayor Tom Menino has officially designated August 23 as “Girl Power Day” in Boston.

According to a press release, the outgoing mayor acknowledged the “unique challenges” females face in the city, and this as a chance to “engage girls in positive programming” and mentoring opportunities.

Basically, when you have been mayor for 20 years, you can name a day whatever you want, whenever you want, but with good reason.

To commemorate the newly named city day, Menino will be attending two events Friday, beginning with a “Girls MAKE the City” Festival in the Innovation District, which will connect girls from Boston’s neighborhoods with professionals in the science and technology fields.

Following a listening session with a panel of professional women from the innovation sector, including researchers from Harvard and MIT, attendees will get to hang out with Menino during a “hands-on” portion of the day’s program and take part in workshops called “High-Tech Bling: Create Your Own LED Jewelry,” and “Engineer Your Own DIY Robot Arm.”

On Friday evening, Menino will join the Circle of Promise GIRLS Campaign “edutainment” event in Bowdoin-Geneva. “Our girls are smart, strong, and have the power to do anything they set their minds to. But they shouldn’t have to do it alone,” Menino said in a statement. “That’s why I am grateful to have so many partners working on this effort with us. It’s so important to have specific programs just for girls that help them become confident, strong young women.”

These events will be preceded by the 93rd anniversary of Women’s Equality Day, on Monday, August 26, to celebrate the ratification of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. At noon that day, the Women’s Commission will join City Councilor Ayanna Pressley at the Boston Women’s Memorial on Commonwealth Avenue Mall to celebrate.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, August 25, women will be gathering at the Boston Common, sans shirts, to celebrate women’s rights in a different way.

Until then, we recommend calling the mayor’s office to see if you can get one of those Girl Power pens he used to sign signed the proclamation.