When I was in ninth grade, women’s history was not a subject taught at Franklin Junior High School in Des Moines. It wasn’t a course of study or a graduate program in college, and there certainly was no doctoral training in women’s history available anywhere in the country.

In short, women’s history was a secret.

The women’s movement of the 1960s transformed the study of history in the United States. Since “history” traditionally meant political history, the subject focused on men, primarily political leaders and events.

But by the 1970s, a new type of “social history” was born, with study of all aspects of American life, including ethnicity, health, media, poverty and education. History wasn’t just white upper- and middle-class politics; it was a spectrum of events including all races, socioeconomic classes and genders. History finally became about women too.

In 1978, recognition of women’s history became a weeklong celebration, and by 1987, March became national Women’s History Month.

Chrysalis Foundation founder Louise Noun also was born in March. Noun was a woman whose social conscience guided her passion for equalizing the imbalance of opportunity, particularly for women. She believed in the power of girls and women, and she led the charge to ensure it.

Noun established Chrysalis to carry on this work. Through programs we host, money we raise, grants we award and conversations we lead, we’re dedicated to making a change.

So all through the month of March, in tandem with Women’s History Month, we’re taking a cue from Louise Noun and celebrating “31 Days of Chrysalis.”  We’re asserting our mission to ensure safety, security, education and economic empowerment for girls and women in Greater Des Moines. It’s what we do, and here’s how we’ll do it:

Each day during March, we’ll be asking you to join us in making history, and we’ll provide a number of opportunities. Mentor another woman. Lead a supply drive for homeless women. Talk to friends about sex trafficking of Iowa girls. Build a girls’ fitness activity kit. Attend a Chrysalis event. Volunteer.

31 Days of Chrysalis will allow us to amplify the voices of girls and women during Women’s History Month, and we’re looking to you to help us. Share in our celebration of smart girls and strong women by giving back to the community.

Louise would be happy to know our work continues.