The EC200 committee has announced that the second event in the EC200 Heritage Commemoration Series will take place on Wednesday, July 28 at the historic Roycroft Campus in East Aurora with Trailblazing Women of WNY, a free event featuring musical performances by Buffalo Girlchoir, Newtown Women Singers and Daughters of Creative Sound along with speakers discussing the impact women of WNY have made on social change. The event will take place on the Roycroft Campus’ Great Lawn from 6 - 8 PM at 31 South Grove St. in East Aurora. Gates open at 5:30 PM.

“The EC200 Committee has put together another great program and an evening with the Trailblazing Women of WNY promises to be an interesting, educational and fun celebration of our bicentennial and the powerful impacts that women have had in shaping our community along the way,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “The Great Lawn at the Roycroft Campus provides a wonderful setting and I encourage everyone to come out and be a part of the celebration.”

“The Roycroft Campus is excited to host this Bicentennial event celebrating women’s history in Western New York,” stated Curt Maranto, Executive Director of the Roycroft Campus.  “The Roycroft has been a center for progressive social issues since its founding in 1897, and we look forward to sharing the story of Alice Hubbard, wife of Roycroft co-founder Elbert Hubbard, and her work in support of the Suffrage Movement.”

In addition to musical performances the event will feature a discussion moderated by Karen King, PhD., Commissioner of Public Advocacy for Erie County, and focused on the impact of women on social change. Speakers include Dr. Lillian Williams, speaking on Mary Talbert; Dr. Lori Quigley, speaking on Geraldine Sid Tah Green; Amizetta Haj, speaking on Alice Hubbard; and Kelly Hayes McAlonie, speaking on Louise Bethune.

“The Erie County Commission on the Status of Women is thrilled to be part of the EC200 celebration,” added Karen King, PhD., Commissioner of Public Advocacy for Erie County.  “And what better way to celebrate than to acknowledge the contributions that trailblazing women of WNY have made to our community over the last 200 years!”

Flying Bison Brewing Company will be onsite offering beer tastings, and the Roycroft Inn will be open for additional food/beverage.

Attendees should bring their own blankets/chairs and may also bring their own refreshments; please observe a carry-in/carry-out policy for food/trash.

This event is presented by the office of Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and is hosted by the Roycroft Campus.

Background:

Planning for EC200 began almost two years ago with an organizational effort that included the County Executive’s office along with Executive Director of the Buffalo History Museum Melissa Brown, Erie County Historian Douglas Kohler, and a few dozen local historical, cultural, and community stakeholders.

The group grew to include hundreds of volunteers working on programming, marketing, inclusion and outreach for the year-long bicentennial celebration. Committee work is focused on Education, Programming, Marketing, Media/Social Media, and Diversity and Inclusion.

Included among the organizations joining the Erie County Departments of Environment & Planning and Parks, Recreation and Forestry in presenting EC200 are Visit Buffalo Niagara, the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, Hispanic Heritage, the Buffalo History Museum, Explore and More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children’s Museum,  Flying Bison Brewing Company, the Baird Foundation, Shea’s Performing Arts Center, EPIC, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the WNY Pride Center as well as many local historical sites.

For more information:

On EC200 visit:      https://www3.erie.gov/ec200/ 

On the Roycroft Campus visit:   https://www.roycroftcampuscorporation.com/

On Trailblazing Women of WNY visit:   https://trailblazingwomenwny.org/

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