SALISBURY — Seventy-five years of advancing opportunities for women and girls is a milestone worthy of celebration. For the Salisbury Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), however, this anniversary represents more than a commemoration of the past.
“It is an opportunity to celebrate generations of women whose commitment to education, advocacy and community service has helped shape Rowan County while reaffirming the organization’s responsibility to future generations,” noted a release from the organization.
AAUW Salisbury will commemorate its 75th anniversary by hosting the Women’s EmpowHERment Expo on Sunday, Nov. 1, from noon until 5 p.m. in Room B of the Rowan County Events Center, located at 1965 Jake Alexander Boulevard West in Salisbury.
The community-wide celebration is slated to bring together women entrepreneurs, community leaders, veterans, political candidates and residents for an afternoon of shopping, entertainment, recognition and fellowship.
According to the organization’s press release, the expo will feature women-owned businesses and vendors, encouraging residents to support female entrepreneurship and recognize the economic contributions women make throughout Rowan County. Additional highlights are to include a nonpartisan opportunity to recognize women seeking political office in Rowan County ahead of the November election, a special celebration honoring women veterans for their military service, and entertainment designed to bring the community together.
For AAUW Salisbury, the anniversary provides an important opportunity to reflect on the progress women have made while recognizing the continued importance of advocacy.
“This is a critical time in our nation to celebrate. We need to be reminded of the milestones and triumphs so we can remain steadfast on our journey,” Branch President Da’Tarvia Parrish said. “For 75 years, the women of AAUW Salisbury have understood that progress does not occur simply because we desire change. Progress requires scholarship, advocacy, sacrifice and the willingness to create opportunities for others. We celebrate the women who opened doors before us, honor those who continue to challenge barriers, and embrace our responsibility to ensure that the next generation of women and girls inherits opportunities greater than those we received.”
Founded in 1951 under the leadership of Juanita Henry, the Salisbury Branch aim to establish itself as an advocate for education, civic participation and community advancement.
Historical records preserved by the Edith Clark History Room document the branch’s involvement in efforts to increase women’s representation on the Salisbury city school board as early as 1953. During the following years, members supported children’s art exhibitions, international affairs programming, literary discussions and community efforts to establish mental health services.
Those early initiatives established a tradition of civic engagement that has continued across generations. Rather than limiting its mission to the concerns of its membership, AAUW Salisbury has consistently connected women’s advancement to the educational, cultural and social well-being of the broader community.
Throughout its history, the branch has sponsored programs addressing critical issues affecting women, supported local college women through professional development and leadership opportunities, and contributed to the pursuit of higher education for nearly 100 Rowan County residents. Its scholarship initiatives reflect an understanding that access to education can transform not only individual lives but also families and communities.
The Salisbury Branch’s work is rooted in a national organization that goes back to 1881, when a group of college-educated women organized to challenge barriers that restricted women’s educational and professional opportunities. More than 140 years later, AAUW continues to advance equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy.
Nationally, AAUW has contributed to major conversations and legislative efforts involving equal pay, educational equity, workplace discrimination, family leave and women’s economic security. Its advocacy has included support for the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
“Equally significant is the organization’s longstanding commitment to research,” said the release. “Through studies examining gender disparities in education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, employment and compensation, AAUW has provided evidence that informs public policy and challenges practices that limit women’s advancement.”
Among its influential publications is The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap, which examines persistent differences in earnings between women and men. AAUW reports that women working full-time earned approximately 81 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2024. The organization estimates that this disparity can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost earnings over a woman’s working lifetime, with even greater economic consequences for many women of color.
The release said that those findings “underscore why AAUW’s mission remains relevant,” adding that “although women have achieved historic advances in education, professional leadership, political representation and economic participation, barriers to equitable compensation, affordable higher education and career advancement remain.”
AAUW’s 2025–2027 public policy priorities continue to emphasize educational opportunity, economic security, civil rights and social justice. The organization advocates for policies addressing pay equity, access to affordable childcare, paid family and medical leave, and protections against discrimination and harassment in educational institutions and workplaces.
For the Salisbury Branch, those national priorities find expression through local service, scholarship support, educational programming and partnerships that strengthen the community.
The Women’s EmpowHERment Expo embodies that connection between national advocacy and local action. Supporting women-owned businesses promotes economic opportunity. Recognizing women veterans acknowledges service and sacrifice that have not always received adequate public recognition. Providing a nonpartisan space for women political candidates underscores the importance of civic participation and representation. Bringing residents together creates opportunities for fellowship, collaboration and continued community engagement.
As AAUW Salisbury celebrates its diamond anniversary, the organization also honors the women whose leadership sustained its mission through changing generations, shifting social expectations, and evolving challenges. Their collective work demonstrates that lasting progress is rarely the accomplishment of one individual. Rather, it is the result of generations who recognize that opportunities gained must become opportunities shared.
Residents are encouraged to attend, support participating vendors, recognize women whose contributions have strengthened the community, and learn more about AAUW’s continuing mission.
