U of T marks International Women's Day with lectures, a pitch competition and other events

The University of Toronto community is marking International Women’s Day on March 8 with a variety of events across the three campuses.

From lectures and workshops to a startup pitch competition and a fun trivia night, the events will highlight the cultural, political and socioeconomic achievements of women across the world.

Here’s a snapshot of what’s scheduled across the three U of T campuses this week:

Women in Hip-Hop: Erasure, Trailblazers and Place-makers

Co-hosted by Hart House and Fresh, Bold and So Def at the Universal Hip Hop Museum, this virtual event will showcase the historical and continuing contributions of women in hip-hop. The conversation will be led by moderator Francesca D'Amico-Cuthbert, a post-doctoral researcher at U of T’s Jackman Humanities Institute. She’ll be joined by Martha Diaz, curator, archivist, educator, media producer and social entrepreneur; DJ Lynnée Denise, artist, scholar and writer; and Kayja Edwards, a student at U of T Mississauga who is studying a double major in communications, culture, information and technology and women and gender studies. March 8, 4 – 5:30 p.m. ET 

Pitch With a Twist

Part of U of T’s Entrepreneurship Week, ICUBE – home of early-stage start-ups at U of T Mississauga – is hosting Pitch with a Twist, International Women’s Month Edition. The event provides an opportunity for women-identifying entrepreneurs to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of women-identifying judges from a variety of sectors for cash prizes and support. March 8, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. ET

Faith on the Margins – International Women’s Day Event 

The Multi-Faith Centre at U of T is hosting a virtual conversation to explore how gender rights, justice and spirituality are connected. The participants include Maryam Khan, social work professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, Rev. Cheri DiNovo, minister and former MPP, and Rabbi Ariella Rosen, senior director and senior Jewish educator at Hillel U of T. March 8, 5:30 – 8 p.m. ET

International Women's Day – Crowns of Change Head Wrap Workshop

Hosted at the Meeting Place at U of T Scarborough, the Crowns of Change is a workshop for women to learn how to protect their hair with a head wrap or head covering. Participants will get to leave with their own crown. March 8, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. ET

International Women’s Day Lecture with Tara Houska

The Women & Gender Studies Institute is hosting a virtual lecture – Defend the Sacred: Reconnection is Resistance – with tribal attorney, land defender and climate justice activist Tara Houska. She co-founded Not Your Mascots, an organization committed to educating the public about representation of Indigenous Peoples. March 9, 6 – 7:30 p.m. ET

International Women’s Day Trivia Night

Students, staff and faculty are invited to take part in a fun trivia night focused on women who are trailblazers in their respective fields. Hosted by the International Student Centre, there are prizes available. March 11, 5 – 6 p.m. ET