International Women's Day Events Set by TAMIU-SBDC, Partners

A multi-event observation of International Women’s Day (IWD) will include a week of activities March 3 – 8, hosted by Texas A&M International University’s Small Business Development Center (TAMIU-SBDC) along with partners, the TAMIU Office of Global Initiatives, the Mexican Consulate, and the U.S. Consulate.

TAMIU-SBDC director Michael González said the observance is a remarkable opportunity to be part of the international event, while gaining keen local insight into the challenges that are ahead.

“By working closely with our international partners, we’ve been able to create an expansive, locally delivered experience that truly underscores the IWD focus on making gender equality part of our lived reality…as soon as possible,” González said.

“So, we’ve created a series of events and experiences that offer special opportunities for engagement, enlightenment and commitment to moving forward through collective efforts,” he added.

Events will begin Saturday, March 3 with a Women’s Day March at Bridge 1 at 9:30 a.m.  Participants will meet at San Agustin Plaza for an Official Picture, and then proceed to the Bridge for an exchange of song, hugs and roses with Nuevo Laredo counterparts.

On Wednesday, March 7, a Women’s Day Luncheon and Press Conference will be held at 12 noon at The Outlet Shoppes, event host.

On Thursday, March 8, a Panel Discussion and Reception will be held at TAMIU’s Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library Colonnade and Helen Richter Watson Gallery from 5 to approximately 7:30 p.m. 

The panel, moderated by María Eugenia Calderón-Porter, TAMIU assistant vice president for Global Initiatives, will feature three speakers from the Pascual Corporation, a Spain-based, family business that includes Calidad Pascual, a leader in food quality and innovation in over 60 countries, and La Quinta, a real estate development and tourism sector service provider including hotels, spas and more.

The Pascual Corporation has met the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women’s “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality” challenge.  That challenge asks participants to make commitments to address the challenges that are holding women and girls back from reaching their full potential.  Pascual Corporation has addressed this challenge through an aggressive infusion of family ethics into their businesses.

Of additional interest, the company traces some of its family ties to Laredo.

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first​ ​March 8​ ​IWD gathering supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Today, IWD belongs to all groups everywhere.

To learn more about the International Women’s Day observance week, contact the TAMIU-SBDC at 956.326.2840, email michael.gonzalez@tamiu.edu, or click on https://sbdc.tamiu.edu

For more on International Women’s Day, visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com  To learn about “Step it Up for Gender Equality,” go to: https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/step-it-up/about