"Who is Going to Tell Our Story? We Are!" Persisterhood Oral History Project - Spotlight #1

Celebrating Our Stories for Women’s History Month

By Robbin Warner and Susan Wagner

Women have always been at the heart of movements for change. Pick a movement — civil rights, labor, voting rights, and, of course women’s rights — and you’ll find women organizing, leading, building, and pushing it forward. And yet, too often, our contributions are minimized, overlooked, or forgotten.

We’re not letting that happen again.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we can think of no better group of women to spotlight than the women in the grassroots movement. Thanks to the work of the Persisterhood Oral History Project, launched in 2025, we now have an organized effort to record, honor and preserve the stories of women who stepped into politics over the past 10 years because staying quiet just wasn’t an option.

For many that moment came after the 2016 presidential election. For others, it came with the rollback of reproductive rights. And for many more, it came with the growing attacks on freedom, justice, and democracy. That was only the first Trump administration.

Now, we’re living through daily shocks and escalating harm. Policies are hurting people in real time. Americans are being killed by the actions of our own government, something that feels surreal to say out loud. These are painful, frightening, history-shaping moments. And moments like these demand to be documented clearly, truthfully, and in our own voices.

Thanks to readily accessible technology like Zoom and cameras on our phones, we have a simple, accessible way to collect these stories thoughtfully and effectively while the memories are still fresh and the emotions still real.

Why do this project now? Because we are at a pivotal moment. For the first time in modern American history, there are active and highly visible efforts to censor, revise, and erase parts of our nation’s past. In a joint statement on March 13, 2024, the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians warned of “a systemic campaign to distort, manipulate, and erase significant parts of the historical record.” That’s exactly why this work matters. By recording and preserving our stories now, we help ensure they cannot be erased and will remain part of our shared history.

When we say “preserve,” we mean more than posting online. Social media is filled with videos, memes, and posts documenting what’s happening today. As we all know, what’s everywhere online one moment can vanish the next. Preservation means making sure these stories are still here 10, 20, 50, or even 100 years from now.

All the material we collect—videos, audio, and photographs—is being housed in the George Mason University Library Archive in Fairfax, VA. The archive ensures that these stories remain accessible and protected, even as technology and formats change over time. We truly couldn’t ask for better partners than the George Mason University archivists.

Our voices hold hard-won lessons, relentless courage, and unyielding hope. When we share them, we ignite the path for future generations. That’s why our vision is urgent and bold: to create a living archive where women’s voices are not just heard, but honored, remembered, and celebrated — today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.

Spotlight #1 Michelle Ward

For Women’s History Month 2026, we will spotlight stories collected as part of the Persisterhood Project. For this first of three spotlight articles, we are sharing a story from Michelle Ward.

In this video ​​Michelle recounts how surreal election night in 2016 felt. At first, she didn’t believe Donald Trump could actually win — like many people, she was certain Hillary Clinton would become president and that everything would be okay. But as the results rolled in, confidence turned to shock and heartbreak. Sitting with family and friends watching the news became especially emotional when her daughter quietly asked whether women would still have the right to vote. That question stopped Michelle in her tracks. At that moment, politics became personal. Michelle realized democracy wasn’t something you could simply assume would hold steady on its own — it required attention, participation, and care.

Get Involved

This project is for every woman who has taken even a single step to protect democracy—whether writing a postcard, showing up at an event, speaking out at the dinner table, or lying awake at night wondering where our country is headed. Every action, every conversation, every moment of courage is part of a larger story unfolding right now—and that story deserves to be told by the women who are living it.

You are not just witnessing this moment in history — you are helping shape it. Your voice, your experience, and your persistence belong in this project.

If you’d like to learn how you can take part — whether by sharing your story or joining the Persisterhood team — it all begins with attending an orientation session. We have three upcoming sessions:

• Thurs., March 19, 4pm ET

• Mon., March 23, 7pm ET

• Thurs., April 30, 4pm ET

If you are reading this article after these dates, check out the Persisterhood Oral History Project website for additional dates.