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August is a month of remembrance and renewal. In South Africa, Women’s Day honors the courageous women who stood against apartheid’s pass laws, reminding us that collective resistance can transform systems of oppression. In the United States, Women’s Equality Day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, a milestone in the long struggle for voting rights, though one that excluded women of color and required decades more of activism to make equality real. Across these continents and histories, one truth echoes: women have always been at the center of movements for justice, dignity, and regeneration. Today, we stand in that lineage as we uplift women leaders, both past and present, who are shaping regenerative futures. From the stage to the soil, from construction sites to global thought leadership, their work reminds us that transformation is not only possible, but already unfolding.  South African Women’s Day: You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock On August 9, 1956, women from across South Africa gathered in Pretoria, delivering petitions to the Union Buildings in defiance of the apartheid government’s extension of pass laws to Black women. Their rallying cry “Wathint’ Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo” (You strike a woman, you strike a rock) has since become a symbol of strength and endurance. This day is more than historical commemoration. It is a living reminder that women are often the ones who hold communities together in the face of violence, displacement, and systemic injustice. Their labor, visible and invisible, regenerates life against the odds. Women’s Equality Day: Expanding the Circle of Justice In the U.S. Women’s Equality Day is celebrated on August 26, the anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Yet history reminds us that suffrage was incomplete, Native, Black, Asian, and immigrant women were still denied voting rights for decades. The lesson is clear: progress is always partial, and the fight for equality continues. Today, Women’s Equality Day calls us to ask not only who has gained rights but also who remains excluded, and how we can expand the circle of equity.  Women Leading Regeneration Today As we honor these historic days, we also shine a light on women today who embody the regenerative spirit leaders who resist extractive systems while creating life-affirming alternatives.  Pangea World Theater reimagines the role of art in society. Through performances, civic dialogues, and cultural interventions, Pangea creates spaces where stories heal, communities gather, and systems shift. Co-founder Meena Natarajan has been central to this vision. As Executive and Literary Director, she leads with deep conviction that theater can be a tool for justice and transformation. Meena’s work demonstrates that storytelling is not just reflection but it’s rehearsal for the future.  In Mankato, Minnesota, Living Earth Center (LEC) continues the legacy of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, offering education, community gardens, and land-based programs rooted in food sovereignty and ecological justice. Executive Director Laura Peterson has brought new energy and vision to LEC, weaving together partnerships and programs that strengthen local resilience. Her leadership reminds us that regeneration begins with relationships and goes deeper to land, to one another, and to future generations.  Since 1994, Flannery Construction has been setting a standard for building with integrity, equity, and sustainability. As a woman-owned company based in St. Paul, Flannery has led projects that strengthen communities while keeping environmental and social responsibility at the core. At the helm is Jamey Flannery, whose leadership has ensured that construction is not just about structures, but about people and place. Under her direction, Flannery has delivered award-winning affordable housing, community spaces, and sustainable developments. Her vision proves that women’s leadership can transform even the most traditional industries into engines of regeneration.  Globally, Jenine Benyus has reshaped how we think about design and problem-solving. As the founder of the Biomimicry Institute, Jenine teaches that the answers to our most complex challenges already exist in the natural world if only we learn to listen.Her work has inspired architects, engineers, and designers to look to ecosystems as models, mentors, and measures.  Few voices in the regenerative movement are as foundational as Carol Sandford. Author, educator, and consultant, Carol has spent decades helping organizations and individuals rethink success, leadership, and value creation through a regenerative lens. Her books, The Regenerative Business and The Regenerative Life, are guiding texts for anyone interested in shifting from extractive to life-centered systems. Carol’s talks and lectures, available widely on youtube, continue to inspire new generations of leaders. Call to Action  From South Africa to Minneapolis, from Mankato to global stages, these women embody a truth: regeneration is not a theory, it’s a practice. It’s in how we build, how we lead, how we teach, and how we tell stories. Their leadership reminds us that the future is not waiting to be invented because it is already being tended by women around the world. This August, let’s honor them not only in words but in action:
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