Most Dangerous Women: Women of the West Screening

Campbell County Public Library is pleased to welcome Janet Fitch, producer of Most Dangerous Women, a series of documentary shorts that present the stories of women changemakers, during an after-hours event at CCPL. The pilot episode titled Women of the West will be shown, followed by a moderated question and answer session.

Most Dangerous Women classroom/community education series presents the often untold and little-known stories of women changemakers who were and are still often labeled dangerous, yet whose resilient persistence continues to be essential in creating positive change. Community building is the heart of the series, aiming to bring a diverse range of audiences into dialogue to respect differing opinions, while discovering commonality through engaging around the stories.

“A major goal of the series is to rediscover/reclaim and share stories of historic and contemporary women who challenge the status quo, for the common good," says Fitch, "so if you are interested in telling a brief story of your personal favorite “dangerous women”–from your own family, community, region–please share it at the event!”

Episode one begins in Wyoming, when in 1869, a full 50 years before the Nineteenth Amendment was ratified, the Territory of WY recognized women’s right to vote and to hold elected office. Women of WY grasped this opportunity, running for and winning elections. When WY became a state in 1890, women’s rights were maintained. Charles Burritt’s 1889 WY Constitutional Convention declaration underscores WY’s undeterred commitment to women’s suffrage.

WY became known as the Equality State, an identity that continues to be embraced today. The complexities of women’s actions, and their hopes for the future continue to contribute to Wyoming’s ability to manage change. As former Rep.Cathy Connolly notes in the film, “We have work to do that is not just history...It has to be living history. It has to be continually worked at.” The film explores this unique legacy through interviews with WY legislators in Cheyenne, faculty/students from UW, and community, business and civic leaders from WY and other parts of the West. These women reflect on dangerous women in their own lives, "scrappy, independent women," shaped by and rugged as Wyoming’s land. 

Janet Fitch enjoys creating a range of diverse collaborative partnerships around film projects that expand critical thinking and actions within local, regional and global communities. Her films are intended as tools, to live long productive lives of engagement and impact, inspiring non-polarizing, solution-seeking, civil dialogue around the issues of our times, on a path towards transformative change. Fitch’s holds undergraduate degree in Communications and Philosophy from Alverno College, and MA in Journalism from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee.

New Moon Productions creates a range of diverse collaborative partnerships around film projects that expand critical thinking and actions within local, regional and global communities. Our films are intended to live long productive lives of engagement and impact, inspiring non-partisan, solution-seeking dialogue at the heart of the matter. The films serve as tools for deliberative dialogue around the critical issues of our times, on a path towards transformative change. 

This free event is presented by Wyoming Humanities, League of Women Voters-Campbell County, and Campbell County Public Library.