08/26/2026
August 26, 2026, is Women’s Equality Day! Today, we celebrate the 106th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. At Vernon Multipurpose Center, we believe equality thrives when community resources are accessible to everyone. Join us in honoring the trailblazers who fought for equal rights and the leaders shaping our neighborhood today!
We'll start out with the late Mrs. Willie Etta Jennings...
As we look back at national history, we also honor history made right here at home. This year, the Vernon Multipurpose Center remembers the profound legacy of former board member Willie Etta Jennings. Born in 1919, Willie Etta moved to Kansas City just to finish high school because there wasn't a secondary school open to Black students near her home. Graduating from Sumner High, she spent her life fighting Jim Crow segregation, organizing with civil rights groups, and dedicating her time to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and our center. She famously advised the younger generation to "work hard, be honest, and persevere." Today, we carry her torch.
👇 Drop a comment to shout out an inspiring woman in our community!