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Celebrating Women's History Month: Meet women's rights activist Emma Collum

Posted at 3:27 PM, Mar 02, 2021
and last updated 2021-03-04 13:46:14-05

Inspired by her mother, Emma Collum strives to expand and protect women’s rights.

“We’re teaching our young girls that there’s no limit to what they can achieve,” said Emma Collum.

The attorney and activist co-founded Women’s March on Washington in 2017, where over a million women peacefully marched for their rights.

“It was really a life-changing moment for me,” said Emma.

Shortly after, she founded Women’s March Florida. There are now 13 regional chapters throughout the state.

“We work on voting registration, returning citizen initiatives for voting rights, we work on environment initiatives, gun safety initiatives, immigration initiatives and on any issue that’s going to be incompetent on women,” said Emma.

Emma has inspired thousands of women to stand up for what they believe in, like Carrie Feit, who is now the president of Women’s March Florida.

“When she speaks you know what she’s rooted in. You know she literally does everything she does for the love of sisterhood, love of the community and wanting the best for people,” said Carrie.

Emma’s legal work in helping facilitate and growing small businesses has made her passionate about STEM education… encouraging women to grow in those fields.

“One of the things that I’ve worked very hard on is doing grant proposals with some of the local colleges and local businesses in order to do pipeline projects from local Florida colleges into the STEM companies that are already here to promote the talent especially for young girls and women,” said Emma.

Emma emphasizes the importance of accomplishing your dreams.

“My advice to any young woman is there is no limit to what you can achieve. Keep your chin up and head down. Make sure you use your voice in whatever room you’re in,” said Emma.

Emma is one of the 15 women being honored by the Broward County Commission on the status of women. The honorees are featured throughout March in an exhibit in the lobby of the Governmental Center Broward County, which is located at 115 S. Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.