Don’t you just love when women…?

Because we certainly do! New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, but New York as a whole could qualify for the name because it is full to the brim with dreamers and big dreams. It is a place of movers and shakers, iconic style, and world-changing art. For this year’s International Women’s Day, we at SCOJO New York want to celebrate some of New York’s own women who are doing—or have done—incredible work. New York women are strong, talented, and unstoppable. Here are three such women to think about on this International Women’s Day.

Elisabet Velasquez

A Boricua writer born in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Elisabet Velasquez is the author of When We Make It, a novel-in-verse exploring identity, resilience, and the Latinx experience. She is a poet who uses poetry to explore life. Velasquez, a mother of two, earned her GED at 21 by taking classes in a church basement located in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy), Brooklyn, New York.

She has performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Brooklyn Museum, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, and Harvard University, among other renowned venues.

Audre Lorde

Born in Harlem, Audre Lorde was a writer, professor, activist, and philosopher. Her work was a call to organize and fight for the liberation of oppressed people. She received numerous honors, including the Walt Whitman Citation of Merit, and became New York State’s Poet Laureate. Some of her most influential works include:

• Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – A powerful collection of essays on feminism, race, and identity.
• Zami: A New Spelling of My Name – A “biomythography” blending history, biography, and mythology.
• A Burst of Light – A collection of Lorde’s later essays, documenting her experiences with illness and activism.

Bernadette Peters

Born in Queens, Bernadette Peters is one of the most critically acclaimed Broadway performers. She has been nominated for a Tony Award seven times—winning twice. Four Broadway cast albums she starred in have won Grammy Awards. She has appeared on The Muppet Show and starred in films like Annie. She has also recorded six solo albums, earning her the nickname "The Queen of Broadway."

Iconic women deserve iconic frames. Find your perfect pair with SCOJO New York:

• Baird – Available in three color combinations that bring effortless style.
• Dutch Street – A sophisticated frame in two elegant colors.
• Gershwin – A standout design in three refined hues.

Our Commitment to Women’s Empowerment

As part of our dedication to International Women’s Day, SCOJO New York will continue our tradition of donating several pairs of BluLite styles to the Couture for Cancer event, an annual fundraiser supporting cancer research.

Additionally, SCOJO New York was proud to partner with Girl Scout Cookies earlier this year to support the Whaley Children’s Center.

From all of us at SCOJO New York—Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrate the incredible women in your life today and every day.