M9 Celebrating Women’s History Month: Inspirational Women

Mar 23, 2021 | Holidays

M9 is continuing to honor Women’s History Month, here is some weekly inspiration and interesting facts we have learned:

Motivational Messages

“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall

Inspirational Women Inventors

Fire claimed the lives of many New York City residents, and countless more nationwide, before a woman named Anna Connelly submitted a patent for what would later become known as the fire escape.

After a disastrous fire in the mid-1800s, city officials attempted to enforce the 1867 tenement law, which mandated construction of interior fire paths by landlords. This was easier said than done, however, and the requirement was met with backlash. No viable solution was accepted until 1887.

Connelly’s design was comprised of small metal bridges that would attach to the exterior of buildings. Simple yet effective, the design was accepted by both New York City officials and the city’s landlords, who had previously been at odds over the matter. The two parties set their squabbling aside, officials began to enforce the safety measures, and the landlords complied.

Fire escapes have become a hallmark of New York City’s architecture. As written in the New York times, “officially, of course, the urban fire escape is primarily an emergency exit….and they are often visual knockouts, too. Strikingly designed fire escapes have complemented some of the city’s grandest structures, like the Puck Building on Lafayette Street, and enhanced even the dreariest structures.” (Source: NY Times).

Going above and beyond the scope of civic duty, Connelly made a great contribution to resident safety using a bipartisan solution. Connelly, one of the first women to register a patent for an invention not long after women gained the right to do so, has gone down in history as a great American hero.  The number of lives she saved cannot be quantified.

Woman-Owned Delicious Dining Options

28 Women-Owned Businesses to Support in DC

In our nation’s capital, female-owned restaurants, boutiques, and businesses abound, and women from a wide range of backgrounds are bringing their unique perspectives to everything from fine dining and bagels to framing and floral arranging.

What Woman Inspires You? Views by members of the M9 Team

By Taylor Cunningham, Talent Acquisition Specialist

A woman that inspires me is my daughter; while she may be a little girl now, she is a future woman. As a parent you are molding a little person that will grow up to have their own perspective of the world and go into it with what you taught them. She inspires me every day to be the best mom, employee, and person that I can be so that I can set an example for her as she grows and learns to navigate the world. I am inspired by her as she teaches me just as much as I teach her. It’s things like having patience; her pure honesty even if she doesn’t have a filter with it sometimes; showing emotions because feelings are important and should be acknowledged no matter how big or small they are; remembering not to sweat the small stuff; and my personal favorite is not to forget to stop and smell the roses. We get so caught up in our everyday responsibilities as adults, sometimes we forget to slow down and appreciate the little things in life. The dishes can wait and they’ll be sitting right there for us when we’re done. She makes me a better person overall and she has forever changed my perspective on life. 

“If you ever feel like giving up, just remember there’s a little girl watching you who wants to be just like you, so don’t disappoint her.”