International Women’s Day: Building a Brighter Future for West Virginia Women

By Margaret Chapman Pomponio and Meghan Moses,

International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It is a moment to recognize the resilience, courage, and determination of women who sustain families and strengthen communities across West Virginia. It is also an opportunity to recommit to the work that still lies ahead.

Across our state, women lead in countless ways. They guide students in classrooms, care for patients in hospitals, run small businesses, serve in nonprofits, and strengthen neighborhoods through public service and faith communities. Many mentor the next generation while also caring for aging parents and raising children with hope for a brighter future. Their contributions shape the fabric of West Virginia every day, strengthening families and expanding opportunities for communities.

At the same time, many women continue to face barriers that limit opportunity and security. Women in West Virginia still experience wage gaps and higher poverty rates. Our state faces serious maternal health challenges, and infant and maternal mortality rates remain far too high.Access to affordable healthcare is limited in many communities, while affordable childcare and educational access also remains difficult to find for working families.

Women’s participation in the workforce trails national averages, and the infrastructure families rely on, including healthcare access, transportation, broadband, and economic opportunity, remains uneven across the state. Our foster care system is also under strain, and many families feel stretched thin as they balance work, caregiving, and financial pressure. For women and
families of color, these challenges can be even more pronounced.

These issues are not abstract policy debates. They reflect the daily experiences of families across West Virginia. While progress has been made, the work of expanding opportunity and fairness continues.

Women continue to advocate for equal pay and access to quality healthcare. Many seek the ability to make personal decisions about their bodies and their futures. Women are alsoworking toward greater representation in the places where decisions are made and toward communities where everyone can live free from violence and discrimination.

The vision guiding this work is rooted in dignity and respect for all women. It includes women of every race and ethnic background, women of every identity, and women in every community across West Virginia. It recognizes the importance of safety and equality for LGBTQ+ women and acknowledges the contributions immigrant families bring to our neighborhoods and workplaces. It also honors the rights that generations before us worked hard to secure.

This conversation is not about partisanship. It is about fairness, shared responsibility, and the well-being of families across our state. It is about whether every woman and child in West Virginia has the chance to live a healthy, safe, and economically secure life. That commitment is reflected in the West Virginia Declaration of Rights for Women and Families, which offers a practical framework for progress. The declaration is grounded in the belief that opportunity should not depend on gender, background, or circumstance.

It begins with the principle that women must be free from discrimination in workplaces and communities. It affirms that every West Virginian deserves fair access to voting and representation and recognizes that clean water, reliable transportation, housing, food security, and broadband access are essential foundations for thriving communities. Supporting families also requires policies that strengthen the conditions children need to grow and succeed. Paid family leave, accessible childcare, and expanded educational opportunities help parents remain in the workforce while caring for their families. Improving maternal and infant health outcomes must remain a priority, especially when addressing disparities that affect African American women and babies. Children benefit from strong early education systems, reliable immunization policies, and a foster care system that protects and nurtures them.

Community safety is another important part of this vision. Mental health services, support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and strong community partnerships help ensure that women and families can live with dignity and security.
These goals are practical and achievable because they reflect a simple truth. When women and families thrive, communities prosper.

Turning that vision into reality requires moving from awareness to action. It means working together to remove barriers rather than working around them. It means investing in womenthrough thoughtful policy, strong partnerships, and active community participation. Action can take many forms. It may begin with mentoring a young girl and encouraging her to
speak with confidence. It may mean raising sons who understand the importance of respect and fairness. It can include supporting women-led businesses, strengthening nonprofit organizations, and speaking up when we see injustice in our communities.

Civic engagement also plays a vital role. Voting, volunteering, organizing, and advocating for policies that support women and families all help shape the future of our state and strengthen our shared commitment to opportunity and fairness. There is reason for optimism. In this year’s primary election, nearly 80 women are running for office across West Virginia. They represent communities large and small and bring a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and ideas. Their willingness to step forward and serve reflects growing civic engagement and a shared belief that leadership matters at every level.

This International Women’s Day offers an opportunity not only to celebrate the women who shape our communities every day, but also to support the next generation of leaders who are ready to help move West Virginia forward together. Please join us this Sunday, March 8 th at TheMartin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 314 Donnally Street, Charleston, WV 25301 from 3 pm to 6 pm to learn more and join the movement.

-Margaret Chapman Pomponio, President WV Free
-Meghan Moses, President of The West Virginia Women’s Alliance