Join WoMEn on the Bridge for International Women's Day

Hudson Crossing Park, 65 N. Harrison St., Oswego, IL | Get Directions »
FREE

On Thursday, March 8, women in the Fox Valley area are invited to participate in a celebration of the 102nd anniversary of International Women’s Day at the Hudson Crossing Park in Oswego.

On this day, thousands of women around the world will gather on bridges - from Kigali,(Rwanda) to Brooklyn, from London to Sydney to mark the role of women in the world as peace makers.

The tradition of meeting on bridges for International Women’s Day began in 2010 when women from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Rwanda - countries in devastating war conflict - met on a bridge spanning the border to show the world that women could build the bridges of peace and hope for the future. Last year this campaign grew into a massive global movement with thousands of people gathering on 464 bridges in 70 countries across 6 continents. This year all 7 continents will be represented with the addition of Antarctica.

The women of the Fox Valley are proud to add Oswego to the map of bridge celebrations.  

“The  global event’s slogan, ‘Join WoMEn on the Bridge”, emphasizes the ME from the word “women”, explains the event’s co-organizer Diane Osgood. “Each participant walks alone but also as a part of the global community of women. We will meet on the bridge in Oswego to show support for women who have been victims of war and to call attention to the role of women in peace-making”.

The Oswego Bridge Walk will begin at noon, with participants meeting at Hudson Crossing Park, on the east side of the Fox River. At 12:15 we will cross the pedestrian bridge (part of the Fox Valley Trail) that runs parallel to the Route 34 bridge. For those who wish to continue the conversation, a potluck lunch is planned at a local residence just 3 minutes from the park.

Please send an RSVP for the potluck lunch to rsvpbridgemarch8@yahoo.com, and more information will be sent back in a reply.

For those who cannot actually walk the bridge, virtual participation is a click away at joinmeonthebridge.org. Enter “Oswego” in the search box under “events”, and click on "will attend". If you wish, leave your first name and your home town. Your support will be counted!

More information about “Join Me On the Bridge” world-wide celebrations can be found at joinmeonthebridge.org.   For questions about this local event contact Diane Osgood at diane@osgood.com.