Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 28, 2022

Media Contacts:

Kau’ilani Robinson
(206) 251-8920 | [email protected]

Cory O’Born
[email protected]

HISTORY IN THE MAKING: SEATTLE’S WOMEN MAKE THE EMERALD CITY SPARKLE

SEATTLE – The month of March is Women’s History Month – a time to celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of individuals who identify as women past and present. Seattle is a city with a long history of incredible women leaders that have greatly influenced our communities. Visit Seattle has compiled stories, resources and facts that illustrate exactly how important women are to our beloved city.

Why is Seattle such a noteworthy city for women?

  • According to articles from 2020 in Inc.com and Forbes, 43.8% of small business owners in Seattle are women, thus ranking Seattle as the #1 city in the U.S. for female entrepreneurs.
  • Pack your bags, ladies. This year, Travel + Leisure named Seattle one of the best destinations for solo female travelers!
  • Organizations in Seattle are helping women diversify the tech workforce, which is so prominent in our area. Women Who Code and Ada Developers Academy are just some of the local programs designed to increase inclusivity of women in the world of tech.

Highlighted below are stories from some of Seattle’s most noteworthy women:

  • Bertha Knight Landes: Bertha holds the designation of not only being the first female mayor of Seattle, but the first female mayor of any major US city, elected in 1926 and serving a two-year tenure. At the time, Seattle was known for its corruption and male-dominated leadership, and Bertha made it her platform to be a voice of reform and progress.
  • Princess Angeline, or Kikisoblu: The oldest daughter of Chief Seattle remained on the Duwamish land even after the 1855 Treaty of Point Elliott forced the native people off their land and to a reservation. Her portrait still proudly hangs in the Museum of History and Industry.
  • Sylvia Hunsicker: A former city council candidate and leader of the suffragette movement, Sylvia became Seattle Police Department’s first female policewoman in 1911.
  • Marie Dempcy: The current co-owner of the Mayflower Park Hotel, Marie made a name for herself in 1983 when she became Seattle’s first female hotel general manager. She then went on to become the first elected woman to chair the board of the Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau, now known as Visit Seattle!
  • Marita Johnson and Thelma Fisher DeWitty: Marita and Thelma have the distinction of being the first Black women teachers hired by Seattle Public Schools in 1947.

Here are other ways to support local Seattle women this month:

  • Visit Seattle highlights strong women in our city with the SEAforSHE initiative, a way to tell Seattle’s story of inclusion for all individuals that identify as women. Download a Zoom background with “Badges of Honor” celebrating the greatness of women from all walks of life.
  • Several women chefs and restaurateurs in Seattle have been named James Beard Awards semifinalists this year, including Kristi Brown, Communion (emerging chef), Liz Kenyon, Rupee Bar (best chef: Northwest and Pacific), Mutsuko Soma, Kamonegi (best chef: Northwest and Pacific), Melissa Miranda, Musang (best chef: Northwest and Pacific), Pamela Vuong, The Flour Box (outstanding baker), Rachel Yang, Joule (outstanding chef), The Walrus and the Carpenter (outstanding restaurant.)
  • There are over 200 women-operated small businesses, crafters, and farmers at the iconic Pike Place Market – from world-renowned tattoo artists to local farmers, to esteemed chefs. Visit the market and support its women-run vendors made up of longtime locals, multi-generational immigrant families and young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
  • Kaleena Bliss, Executive Chef of Thompson Seattle and recent winner of Food Network’s wildly popular “Chopped” Season 51 “Casino Royale” tournament in February 2022, will be hosting three pop-up dining events this month. The first, held on March 3, will be a team effort, partnering with Jenessa Sneva of Taurus Ox for an intimate evening of food and drink highlighting Sneva’s traditional Lao dishes with modern presentations. The second is a special dinner on March 10, showcasing food and wine pairings from Delmas Winery. The third, on Wednesday the 23rd, is with Chef Monique Burns, another recent Chopped: Casino Royale contestant and the owner of A Positive Chef catering. Tickets are available for purchase at Conversation Seattle’s website.
  • The Intentionalist compiled a list of female-owned local businesses to patron.
  • Lonness Valenna lived in many places around the world and never truly felt she was home until she landed in Seattle. Born as intersex, she has become a vocal advocate for the trans community around the city. In this episode of #weSEAlove, go behind-the-image of the “fairy godmother of Seattle” to understand why she has made it her mission to help others along on their journeys.
  • YMCA of Greater Seattle has a list of ways for girls and women of all ages to become involved in activities and athletics.
  • Nominate a Woman of Influence in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual award.
  • Attend Silent Movie Mondays: Women Pioneers in Filmmaking at The Paramount Theater on March 28.
  • Support the Refugee Artisan Initiative, a nonprofit group dedicated to investing in refugee women through artisan skill-building.
  • The Pacific Science Center offers programs for young women interested in careers in STEM, including camps and opportunities to talk to women in STEM careers.

Learn more about Seattle celebrating women here.

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About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.

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