JanuaryJanua r2021y 202 1—­ – VolumeVolume I IIIII​ WomenW​ omen MakeMake History:History: S​ Storiestories wwee shouldshould have hav e llearnedearned inin school school

You may not know Katalin KYouari kmayó, b unott sh knowe may Katalin have sKarikó,aved y obutur lsheife. may have

Asavedfter yea ryours of ha life.ving her scientific theories dismissed as too far-fetched aAfternd e yearsven be ofin ghaving demo thered ascientifics a ptheoriesrofesso rdismissed, today Dr .as Ka tootali nfar-fetched Karikó is bandein geven cele beingbrated demoted as the b ioasch ae mprofesist - bsor,ehi ntodayd the Dr.suc Katalincess of Karikóthe wo isrld being’s lcelebratedeading Cor ason athevir ubiochemists vaccines .behind The the rsuccesseason is of h ether g rworld’soundbr eleadingaking Coronavi- drusisc vaccines.overies ab Theout mreasonessen gise herr RN groundA - (mRNA). breaking discoveries about messenger Once dismissed and demoted, Dr. Katalin Karikó is the RNA (mRNA). According to the CDC, the key to genius behind the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Photo by COVID-19 vaccines is their use of MedCityNews.com mAccordingRNA. Un ttoil ntheow ,CDC vacc, ithenes keyhav eto b een mCOVID-19ade using vaccines a weake nise theird or iusenact iofve mRNA. germ to Until stim now,ulate vaccinesthe body 'shave imm beenune r emadespon suse.- Iingnst eaa weakenedd, mRNA “ torea inactiveches ou rgerm cells toho stimulatew to mak ethe a pbody’srotein .immune” The pro response.tein then t rInstead,iggers th e imRNAmmun e“teaches respons eour an cellsd pro howduce tos amakentibo daie protein.”s, which The“kee proteinp us fro thenm ge triggerstting infe thecte dimmune." response and produces antibodies, which “keep us from getting infected.” Early in her career, the Hungarian-born Karikó was fascinated by the possibility of using tEarlyhe bo indy her’s o wcareer,n gen ethetic mHungarian-bornake-up to crea tKarikóe immu wasne t hfascinatederapies. A bypr othemi spossibilitying young of professor at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1990 she began applying for research using the body’s own genetic make-up to create immune therapies. A promising young grants, but she received only rejections. “Every night I was working: grant, grant, grant,” Kprofessorarikó sai dat i nthe a NUniversityov. 2020 aofrt iPennsylvania,cle in STATne wins .1990com, she“An dbegan it cam applyinge back a lforwa yresearchs no, no , ngrants,o.” but she received only rejections. “Every night I was working: grant, grant, grant,” Karikó said in a Nov. 2020 article in STATnews.com, “And it came back always Eno,ve nno,tua no.”lly, Karikó was demoted and removed from the university’s track to full professorship. “I thought of going somewhere else, or doing something else. I also thought [Eventually,that] maybe Karikó I’m no wast goo demotedd enough and, no tremoved smart en fromough the.” B uuniversity’st Karikó did trackn’t gi vtoe fullup. profesShe - psorship.ressed o“In thought and wit hofin going a few somewhere years she p aelse,rtne rored doing with D somethingr. Drew W eelse.issm Ia alson, a pthoughtrofesso r of immunology who shared her scientific interests. [that] maybe I’m not good enough, not smart enough.” But Karikó didn’t give up. She Ipressedn time, t honei rand wo rwithink yield ae dfew res yearsults. S shehort lpartneredy after pub withlicat iDr.on Drewin 200 Weissman,5, two other a im professorportant sofc iimmunologyentists (who wwhooul dshared later h herelp tscientifico found M interests.oderna and Pfizer’s partner, BioNTech,) recognized the far-reaching implications of Karikó's and Weissman’s work. A founder of Moderna, Dr. Derrick Rossi, believes that Karikó and Weissman deserve the Nobel Prize in chemistry. “If anyone asks me whom to vote for...I would put them front and center,” he In time, their work yielded results. Shortly after publication in 2005, two other import- ant scientists (who would later help to found Moderna and Pfizer’s partner, BioNTech,) recognized the far-reaching implications of Karikó’s and Weissman’s work. A founder of Moderna, Dr. Derrick Rossi, believes that Karikó and Weissman deserve the Nobel Prize in chemistry. “If anyone asks me whom to vote for...I would put them front and center,” he said. Their “fundamental discovery is going to go into medicines that help the world.”

Karikó is now a senior vice president at BioNTech, in charge of overseeing its mNRA program. She received the vaccine in December. In a press release issued by the same university that had dismissed her work, Karikó said, “I feel humbled, and happy,” “I am more a basic scientist, but I always wanted to do something to help patients.”

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, It can never be permanently defeated.

Excerpt from “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman, the youngest Inaugural poet, Many of us cheered and even cried as Senator may be Madame President in 2036. Photo courtesy of https://www.theamandagorman.com/ Kamala Harris became the first woman – and first person of color – sworn in as Vice President of the United States. But this remarkable moment yielded to even greater inspiration when twenty-two-year-old Amanda Gorman delivered her poem, The Hill We Climb.

Composed for the Inauguration, two weeks earlier Gorman was worried about her ability to forge a sense of hope and common ground through her poem. When the Jan. 6 attack on the Capital occurred with the violence it unfurled and the deep chasm it revealed, Gorman marshalled her creative strength. She worked through the night to finish.

Referring to the challenge she had set for herself, in a recent article by Alexandra Alter, Gorman said, “…I’m not going to in any way gloss over what we’ve seen over the past few weeks and, dare I say, the past few years. But what I really aspire to do in the poem is to be able to use my words to envision a way in which our country can still come together and can still heal,” she said. “It’s doing that in a way that is not erasing or neglecting the harsh truths I think America needs to reconcile with.” Even at her young age, Gorman is a woman of firsts. The youngest poet ever to de- liver an inaugural poem, the Los Angeles native became the first National Youth Poet Laureate at seventeen. Her comments then were prescient.

“For me, being able to stand on a stage as a spoken word poet, as someone who overcame a speech impediment, as the descendant of slaves who would have been prosecuted for reading and writing, I think it really symbolizes how, by pursuing a passion and never giving up, you can go as far as your wildest dreams.”

If Gorman’s dreams come true, her presence at the 2021 inauguration is a harbinger of things to come. In a 2017 interview she said: “This is a long, long, faraway goal, but [in] 2036 I am running for office to be president of the United States. So you can put that in your iCloud calendar.”

It’s marked!

Say,U.S .what?? A Native American Woman Served as de-facto President Yes and no. Even the website notes that offor mtheer FU.S.?irst Lady Edith “functionally [ran] the YesExe andcutiv no.e b rEvenanch theof g Whiteovern mHouseent” a websitefter the n President notesWilso nthat su fformerfered a First stro kLadye in 1Edith919. Wilson “func- tionallyA direc t[ran] des ctheen dExecutiveant of Po cbranchahonta ofs, governthe Fir-st Lady was ment”born E afterdith Bthenollin Presidentg in Virgi nWilsonia in 1 8suffered72. Whi lae visiting a strokesister iinn W1919.ashington, D.C., she met her first husband, Norman Galt, who died in 1908. Seven years later, Am directutual fdescendantriends intro dofu cPocahontased her and ,t htheen FirstPres ident LadyWilso wasn, w bornho h aEdithd rec Bollingently lo sint Virginiahis wife .in T h1872.e two were Whilemarrie visitingd in De ac esistermbe rin 1 9Washington,15. D.C., she met her first husband, Norman Galt, who died in 1908.Durin gSeven the fi ryearsst Wo later,rld W amutualr, the Ffriendsirst La dintroy pr-oved to be duceda stron herg, i nanddep thenend ePresidentnt woman Wilson,. To ga rwhoner shadupp ort for recentlyfederal rlostatio nhisin gwife. effo rThets, M twors. wereWilso marriedn “obse rinv ed A diredt descendant of , First Lady Decembergasless Su 1915.ndays, meatless Mondays, and wheatless was labeled “The Secret President,” when President Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919. Wednesdays,” according to author Betty Boyd Caroli. Photo by C.M. Bell photographer; Library of DuringShe a ltheso “firstset s hWorldeep toWar, gra theze oFirstn th eLady Wh itprovede Hous e lawn Congress. tora bethe ar strong,than us independente manpower woman.to mow iTot” agarnernd use d proceeds from auctioning their woosupportl to ben eforfit federalthe Red rationing Cross. efforts, Mrs. Wil- son “observed gasless Sundays, meatless Mondays, and wheatless Wednesdays,” Iaccordingn Septem btoe authorr, 1919 Betty, Pres Boydident Caroli.Wilson She suff ealsored “seta st rsheepoke le atov igrazeng him on “ athen i nWhitevalid. ..incapable oHousef mee tlawning w ratherith law thanmak eusers, manpowergoverning, toor mowperfo it”rm anding tusedhe d uproceedsties of th efrom pre sauctionidency-," aingcc otheirrdin gwool to h tois tbenefitorian E rtheic B uRedrns . Cross.Burns also says that the First Lady controlled access to the president and made policy decisions on his behalf. "When something needed to be signed or written, she wrapped her hand around his and scrawled words with a pen."

President Wilson died in 1924, but the First Lady lived to ride in President Kennedy’s inaugural parade. She died in 1961.

Bring it Home: Conversation Starters

Dr. Katalin Karikó and Amanda Gorman have followed their passions and overcome tremendous challenges including self-doubt. When have you felt like giving up? Ask a friend: How do you keep moving forward when you feel like quitting?

First Lady Edith Wilson became the legendary "secret president." What super powers have you felt compelled to keep secret? Are you ready to own them?

Sharon Spaulding discovered the hidden story of Mary Ware Dennett, suffragist, sex-ed and reproductive rights activist, after she married Dennett's great- grandson. Last year, Time magazine included Dennett as one of the most important women in American history.

Sharon has spent ten years researching first-wave feminism, the battle for reproductive rights, and Mary’s life in the context of politics and social mores from 1914–1947. She received a grant from Radcliffe College’s Schlesinger Library to support her research and the creation of a manuscript. Her journalism has appeared in BOLD and Utah Stories. She lives near Salt Lake City with her family and dog, Gus.

Sharon is available to speak on the forgotten stories of remarkable women and the history of the suffrage and reproductive rights movements in the early 20th century. Contact her at: [email protected]. U.S.?

Yes and no. Even the White House website notes that former First Lady Edith Wilson “functionally [ran] the Executive branch of government” after then President Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919.

A direct descendant of Pocahontas, the First Lady was born Edith Bolling in in 1872. While visiting a sister in Washington, D.C., she met her first husband, Norman Galt, who died in 1908. Seven years later, mutual friends introduced her and then President Wilson, who had recently lost his wife. The two were married in December 1915.

During the first World War, the First Lady proved to be a strong, independent woman. To garner support for In September, 1919, Presidentf eWilsonderal ra sufferedtioning eff oar tstrokes, Mrs. Wleavingilson “o bhimserv “aned invalid... incapable of meeting with lawmakers,gasless Sgoverning,undays, me aortle sperformings Mondays, athend wdutiesheatle sofs the presidency,” according to historianWed nEricesda Burnsys,” ac.c oBurnsrding t oalso auth saysor Be tthatty Bo theyd C Firstaroli. Lady controlled access to the presidentShe andalso “madeset she policyep to g rdecisionsaze on the onWh ihiste H behalf.ouse law “Whenn something needed to be signedra orthe written,r than us eshe ma nwrappedpower to m herow handit” and aroundused his and proceeds from auctioning their wool to benefit the Red Cross. scrawled words with a pen.” In September, 1919, President Wilson suffered a stroke leaving him “an invalid...incapable oPresidentf meeting w Wilsonith lawm diedakers in, g o1924,vernin gbut, or the per fFirstormin gLady the d liveduties otof t hridee pr eins idPresidentency," Kennedy’s ainauguralccording t oparade. historian SheEric Bdiedurns .in B u1961.rns also says that the First Lady controlled access to the president and made policy decisions on his behalf. "When something needed to be signed or written, she wrapped her hand around his and scrawled words with a pen."

President Wilson died in 1924, but the First Lady lived to ride in President Kennedy’s inaugural parade. She died in 1961. Bring it Home: Conversation Starters

BDr.ri nKataling it H oKarikóme: Candon Amandaversatio Gormann Start ehavers followed their passions and overcome tremendous challenges including self-doubt. When have you felt like giving up? Ask Da rfriend:. Katalin How Karik ódo a nyoud Am keepanda movingGorman hforwardave follo wwhened th eyouir pa feelssion likes an dquitting? overcome tremendous challenges including self-doubt. When have you felt like giving up? Ask a fFirstriend :Lady How dEditho you Wilsonkeep mo becameving forwa therd w legendaryhen you fee l“secret like quit tpresident.”ing? What super pow- Fersirst haveLady Eyoudith feltWils compelledon became thtoe keeplegend secret?ary "secr eAret pr eyouside readynt." Wh atot sownuper them?powers have you felt compelled to keep secret? Are you ready to own them?

SharonSharon S Spauldingpaulding dis cdiscoveredovered the h theidde nhidden story o fstory Mary ofW aMaryre De nWarenett, s Dennett,uffragist, s esuffragist,x-ed and re sex-edproducti vande rights activist, after she married Dennett's great- reproductivegrandson. Las t rightsyear, T activist,ime mag aafterzine insheclud marrieded Denne Dennett’stt greatgrandson.as one of the mos tLast impo year,rtant w Timeomen magazinein American included Dennetthistory. as one of the most important women in American history. Sharon has spent ten years researching first-wave feminism, the battle for reproductive rights, and Mary’s Sharonlife in the has con tespentxt of p tenolitic yearss and s researchingocial mores fr ofirst-wavem feminism,1914–1947 .the She battle receiv eford a reproductive grant from Ra drights,cliffe and College’s Schlesinger Library to support her research Mary’sand the cliferea intio nthe of acontext manusc ofrip tpolitics. Her jou andrnali ssocialm has mores fromappe a1914–1947.red in BOLD a Shend U treceivedah Stories .a S granthe live sfrom nea rRadcliffe College’sSalt Lake C Schlesingerity with her fam Libraryily and dtoog support, Gus. her research and the creation of a manuscript. Her journalism has appeared in BOLD and Utah Sharon is available to speak on the forgotten stories of remarkable women and the history oStories.f the suf fSherage alivesnd re nearprodu cSalttive rLakeights mCityove mwithent sher in t hfamilye early and20th dog,centu Gus.ry. Contact her at: [email protected]. Sharon is available to speak on the forgotten stories of remarkable women and the history of the suffrage and reproductive rights movements in the early 20th century. Contact her at: [email protected].

Not Nota su ab ssubscriber?criber? To sToig nsign up ,up, ple pleasease vis ivisitt my my we website:bsite: w wwww.SharonSpaulding.comw.SharonSpaulding.com

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