American University of Health Sciences’ (AUHS) faculty and staff celebrated the achievements and contributions of women all over the world on International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8, 2017.
International Women’s Day is a day when people can “reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities,” according to the United Nations.
During Wednesday Noon Prayer, Chantal Jura, Director of Affiliations, asked her fellow employees to take a moment to reflect on International Women’s Day and to pray for their mothers, daughters and sisters.
“I think we should really think about International Women’s Day. Even if you’re not a woman, we all know someone who is a woman,” Jura said, “Please think of our daughters and our sisters. We should really think of their future and pray for that.”
Jura said that they were living in a period of transformation for women that will impact future generations. However, Jura fears there may not be a bright future because of the many challenges and opposition women continue to face today. The protection that women had for their rights, bodies, and ability to make choices was threatened, Jura said.
“The U.S. is still the only industrial country in the world to not have paid maternity leave. That’s really sad that as a woman, you cannot even take a break from work to have a child,” Jura said, “I’m sometimes a little bit scared what’s going to happen for my daughters. Are we going to go backwards or are we going to go forward?”
Jura is an advocate for paid maternity leave and breastfeeding in the workplace which she promotes on her own free time.
“The U.S. is still the only industrial country in the world to not have paid maternity leave,” Jura said, “That’s really sad that as a woman, you cannot even take a break from work to have a child. It doesn’t make any sense to me.”
Pastor Gregory Johnson, AUHS Co-founder, also took time to acknowledge International Women’s Day during one of his meetings. While Pastor Johnson prayed for Tiffany V. Bradshaw, the California Director for the First Ladies Health Initiative, in the First Ladies Health Day meeting, he also prayed for the health and well-being of women around the world.
“I just thank you oh Lord God for your daughter, (Bradshaw), for she is mindful of you for everything that she does. The work that she is doing nationally is a work that’s lead by your women of faith,” Pastor Johnson said, “It just so happens that it’s International Women’s Day. But is there anything on this that has not brought through your daughters, Lord God? Is there anything on this earth that is not birthed through the work of your daughters? So bless them Lord God, keep them safe, protect them from every evil, and keep them in good health.”
AUHS is a private, for-profit, minority owned, minority serving, Christian-based university whose mission is to educate and equip students with life careers and to produce quality health care professionals for the community, the nation, and the world. It is a university where appreciation of life and one’s spiritual reason for existence can be nurtured.
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