LaGuardia Community College Celebrates Women’s History Month With “HERStory in the Making”

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY (February 23, 2025) — LaGuardia Community College/CUNY announces its 2026 Women’s History Month programming, celebrating the contributions, achievements, and advocacy of women and all those who advance gender equity. This year’s “HERStory in the Making” highlights the historic and ongoing work of women who have shaped, and continue to shape, our communities. The series is organized by a robust and cross-divisional committee of faculty, staff, and students.

“HERStory in the Making celebrates the power, resilience, and brilliance of women whose advocacy continues to shape our communities and our country,” said Dr. Alexis McLean, Vice President of Student Affairs. “These programs create space for reflection, connection, and empowerment. I encourage our campus community to take part, learn from one another, and continue this work far beyond Women’s History Month.”

2026 “HerStory in the Making” Events

• Kickoff Event: Celebrating Alumni Stories, Mentorship, and the Significance of Women as Mentors
  Tuesday, March 10, 11:45 a.m.–2 p.m., E-Building, E-500
  Program includes:
  • Keynote Speakers: LaGuardia alumni April Cardena (Criminal Justice’20) and Natasha Scott (Occupational Therapy Assistant’02)
    • April Cardena, a first-generation Mexican-American, was named to City & State New York’s 2025 Political Consultants Power 100 list, and Schneps Media’s 2023 Bronx Power List for her campaign and advocacy work. She is a Founding Partner of Premier Strategies Inc. and served as Campaign Manager for Kristy Marmorato’s successful 2023 New York City Council race.
    • Natasha Scott, OTR/L, MSOT, is a licensed occupational therapist, educator, and leader with over 24 years of experience, including 19 years working to advance occupational therapy services for neurologically diverse children in public education. She currently serves as a Supervisor of Occupational Therapy with NYC Public Schools.
  • Panel Discussion
    • Panelists: April Cardena; Natasha Scott; Landon Ranchor, MSW (Human Services: Mental Health’20), program assistant for the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Hub; Alex Rivera, Partnership Coordinator for CUNY Spring Forward Healthcare Hub; Kay Rivera, adjunct lecturer (English) and staff member of the Center for Teaching and Learning’s ePortfolio Office; and Tiffany Johnson (OTA’20), Certified Lab Technician for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program
    • Moderators: Dr. Juline Koken, professor and Director of the Human Services: Mental Health program, and Michele Mills, professor of Health Sciences
  • Letter Writing Workshop
• Designing Motherhood: Things That Make And Break Our Births
  Thursday, March 12, 1 p.m.–3 p.m., E-Building, E-500
  Curator and author Michelle Millar Fisher discusses her book and exhibition, Designing Motherhood: Things that Make and Break Our Births, exploring how design has shaped reproductive experiences—from clothing for pregnant people to the controversial origins of the home pregnancy test.
• Women in Politics: Advocacy, Public Service, and Leadership
  Wednesday, March 18, 10:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., E-Building, E-500
  Hosted by the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Hub, the Political Science program, LaGuardia and Wagner Archives, and the Student Government Association (SGA), this event brings together woman-identifying elected officials and social movement leaders to explore urgent political issues and paths forward during a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
• Radical Care During Chaos
  Thursday, March 19, 9:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m., E-Building, E-242
  A student-centered workshop focused on relationships, self‑care, co‑regulation, grounding techniques, and understanding healthy versus unhealthy relationship dynamics.
• BRAVE: Breast And Gynecologic Cancer Research Awareness For Vital Education
  Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m.–3 p.m., E-Building, E-242
  Presented by Weill Cornell, this workshop is designed to equip students with essential tools to reduce the risk of breast and gynecologic cancers, recognize when family history heightens risk, and understand the role of clinical trials in improving cancer outcomes.
• Artist Lecture With Shellyne Rodriguez
  Tuesday, March 24, 4 p.m.–6 p.m., E-Building, E-242
  Bronx‑based artist, educator, historian, writer, and community organizer Shellyne Rodriguez discusses her multidisciplinary work and the stories that shape her artistic practice.
• Women’s Literary Salon
  Wednesday, March 25, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., E-Building, E-500
  The English Department’s 12th Annual Salon invites students, faculty, and staff to read or listen to original works or writings by women authors. Advance registration encouraged; refreshments provided.
• Awakening The Sleeping Giant: Joy As Medicine
  Wednesday, March 25, 2:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., M-Building, M-144
  Led by the Brujas of Brooklyn (CUNY Professors Griselda and Miguelina Rodriguez), this interactive workshop explores joy as resistance through dialogue and guided breathwork meditation.
• Student Talks: Women, Gender, And Trauma Informed Pedagogy
  Thursday, March 26, 1 p.m.–3 p.m., E-Building, E-501
  Students lead discussions and activities on trauma‑informed pedagogy, exploring how learning, movement, connection, and transformation support healing.
• Real Talk About Money
  Tuesday, March 31, 10:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m., E-Building, E-242
  An interactive session on financial literacy, independence, and self‑sufficiency. The workshop also addresses financial abuse in relationships, warning signs, and safety planning.

For more information, contact Deema Bayrakdar or email the Women’s Center & LGBTQ+ Hub at womencenter@lagcc.cuny.edu.

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LaGuardia Community College (LAGCC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution, located in Long Island City, Queens offers more than 50 associate degrees and academic certificates, and more than 65 continuing education programs to prepare New Yorkers for transfer to senior colleges and rewarding jobs and careers. An institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), the College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of the underserved. Since 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students from Queens, NYC and beyond.

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