International Women’s Day is coming up and this year’s campaign theme is ‘Balance for Better‘.

The 2019 #BalanceforBetter campaign runs all year long. It doesn’t end on International Women’s Day.

The campaign theme provides a unified direction to guide and galvanize continuous collective action, with ‘Balance for Better’ activity reinforced and amplified all year.

There are some great events happening around Birmingham to celebrate, most of which are free!

Fatema Hickson from Birmingham Mind supports 'Balance for Better' this International Women's DayAdam Yosef
Fatema Hickson from Birmingham Mind supports ‘Balance for Better’ this International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day 2019

The first IWD took place in 1911 and over one million people celebrated. This year, the campaign theme is ‘Balance for Better’, which promotes the idea that there needs to be a collective force driving gender balance. You can find out more about this year’s campaign on the official IWD website here.

Dawn Carr from Legacy WM in Birmingham supports International Women's DayAdam Yosef
Dawn Carr from Legacy WM in Birmingham supports International Women’s Day

IWD in Birmingham

There are guest speakers to bring out your inner boss woman, workshops and even some dancing along the way. Take a look at some of the events taking place across Birmingham for IWD below.


BBC Birmingham ‘Fierce Women in Media’

When: Tuesday 5th March 

Where: the Glee Club

Price: FREE

‘Fierce Women in Media’ is a campaign aimed at young people who want to break in to the media. In the weeks leading up, BBC Three and BBC Birmingham have been spreading the campaign across social media, asking people to send in their photos of their inspirational messages. Throughout the day, you will have chance to meet some of the media’s boss women and learn a trick or two in a series of workshops. There are also some practical sessions, such as having chance to film yourself giving a pitch and getting feedback from the team at BBC Three! You can also apply to be at an exclusive screening of BBC Three’s new ‘Glow Up’ featuring Stacey Dooley and MAC’s global senior artist Dominic Skinner.

All are welcome. You can register your interest here, and for the screening of ‘Glow Up’ here. Be quick! Tickets are almost gone!

BBC

West Midlands Women’s Voice ‘In conversation with Dr Helen Pankhurst’ 

When: Wednesday 6th March

Where: The Custard Factory

Price: FREE

Dr Helen Pankhurst comes from a long line of powerful women. She is the great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, leaders of the British suffragette movement. On 6th March, Helen will be delivering a key note speech as well as a series of workshops with fellow members of  West Midlands Women’s Voice. 

Register your interest here.

WMWV

Tech Office ‘Women in tech’ meet-up 

When: Friday 8th March 

Where:  The Old Crown

Price: FREE

What did we say about there being wine involved? Tech Office at ASOS are hosting a networking evening for women who work in technology. The aim is to promote #BalanceforBetter and provide a space for women in the tech industry to meet up and have a chat over a glass of wine (or two!).

Register your interest here.

Women in Tech

PMT ‘Women-only’ Disco 

When: Friday 8th March 

Where:  Impact Hub

Price: FREE (donate what you feel)

PMT which stands for ‘Powering the Matriarchy Together’ are taking us back to the seventies with a night of disco and live music.

Organiser Ali Baskerville told us, “This is going to be a women and non-binary only event based on the fact that in the 1970’s there were female only discos in Birmingham. We’re bringing it back to life whist being more progressive in how we understand womanhood in 2019.”

For more information, to get your tickets and to see confirmed live acts, visit ImpactHub.net.

PMT

The Empowerment Project ‘Stand Tall & Walk Sassy’ masterclass

When: Sunday 10th March

Where: DanceXchange

Price: £5.83

Birmingham University law graduate and dancer, Grace is hosting a good ol’ sassy Beyonce-styled dance workshop for the launch of her new campaign The Empowerment Project. Grace has been dancing since she was very young and was told she needed to be skinnier to be a dancer. She has endured bullying and knocks to her confidence growing up. Now, with this campaign she hopes she can promote self-confidence and urge women to support one another with #queensfixcrowns.

Grace has confirmed some celebrity panelists and guest speakers at the workshop and welcomes individuals and groups of all ages and abilities. She hopes this will be the first of many empowerment workshops.

Tickets can be purchased here.

The Empowerment Project

Book launch – Once upon a time in Birmingham: women who dared to dream 

When: Sunday 10th March

Where: Waterstones, High Street

Price: £3 (redeemable against a copy of the book)

Once upon a time in Birmingham: women who dared to dream is a collection of stories from Birmingham’s most influential women. The book has been written by Birmingham City Council who have teamed up with local authors, illustrators and publishers. The book “aims to inspire the city’s next generation of female achievers, leaders and pioneers.” On the day, you have the chance to meet some of the powerful women who have inspired the book.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Waterstones

COBO Queens of Comedy IWD special

When: Sunday 10th March

Where: the Glee Club

Price: £16.58 upwards

If you fancy a giggle, then COBO (Comedy Of Black Origin) are hosting a women’s day special evening at the Glee Club. COBO Events host comedy and entertainment shows from black origin. The COBO Queens appearing in this Women’s Day special are Maureen Younger (Band Of Brothers, MY Comedy), Dana Alexander (CTV, The Comedy Channel), Glenda Jaxson (BBC Blouse & Skirt) and Judi Love (BBC, ITV, Pranksterz, 1Xtra).

Tickets can be purchased here.

COBO

BAD GIRLS PRESENTS x Slag Mag! launch party

When: Friday 8th March

Where: The Castle & Falcon, Moseley

Price: £6.50

BAD GIRLS PRESENTS are a community-organisation who celebrate female talent across the Midlands. On Friday, they are celebrating IWD and the launch of their new magazine Slag Mag (Serious Ladies of Art & Gigs!). There are singers and DJs at the party with music ranging from smooth jazz to 80s, pop and punk. There will also be art on display and for sale. The party goes on from 8 til’ late.

Find out more about the event and tickets here.

BAD GIRLS PRESENTS

#DIDFest2019: Women in tech

When: 8th March-7th April

Where: various locations across Birmingham

Price: FREE

DIDFest (Diversity In Digital) has a multitude of events on offer across Birmingham, starting with IWD on Friday 8th March. DIDFest is geared towards young women in the media and tech industries with varying degrees of experience and knowledge. Visit their website to see the array of events on offer, from The Big Bang at NEC to ASOS Hackathnos, guest speakers from leading industry professionals and workshops for surviving as a woman in media.

To find out more and sign up, click here.

Image may contain: textDIDFest

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day in Birmingham? Who are the inspirational women in your life?

Keep us up to date on Twitter or email us news@iambirmingham.co.uk.

From the team at I Am Birmingham, happy International Women’s Day!

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