MIDWOOD — Brooklyn Democratic Club Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, AD-42, as assemblymember representing the district in which Brooklyn College sits, has chosen the campus as a launching pad to celebrate what she calls Women’s “Her”story Month.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Brooklyn Dems will honor New York civic leaders, including some Brooklyn legends who paved the way for so many women to ascend to the highest offices in New York and beyond.

Mary Lilly was the first woman and first Democratic woman elected in 1919 to serve in the New York State Assembly. She was also one of the first women admitted to practice law in the state of New York and received the first scholarship given by New York University to a woman.

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to be elected to Congress, representing New York’s 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1972, she became the first Black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.

Ruth Bader Ginsberg served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. Brooklyn born and raised, she was the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the court.

Mary Anne Krupsak was the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor in New York State. Prior to her 1974 victory she served in the New York State Senate, elected in 1972, following two terms in the Assembly.

Photo: Brooklyn Democratic Party

Judith Kaye was the first female judge appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals in 1983 and is the first woman chief judge of the state’s highest court — a job she held longer than any of her 21 male predecessors. As chief judge, she modernized the statewide court system and established the groundbreaking problem-solving specialized courts.

Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who became the first woman to lead a party conference in the New York State legislature in 2012, was elected the first woman Senate Majority Leader in 2019. She has served the 35th Senate District in Westchester County since 2007.

Letitia James is the first woman elected, in 2018, as attorney general and the first Black woman elected to statewide office in New York. She has served as NYC public advocate and NYC councilmember representing Brooklyn’s 35th Council District.

Kathy Hochul is the 57th and first female governor of New York state since 2021. She has served as Erie County clerk and as a member of Congress for New York’s 26th Congressional District.

Julie Menin was elected speaker of the NYC Council in 2026, making her the first Jewish woman to serve in the role. She has served as a NYC councilmember for District 5 and Department of Consumer Affairs commissioner.

Crystal Peoples-Stokes is the first woman appointed, in 2018, majority leader of the New York State Assembly. She has served Buffalo’s 141st Assembly District since 2003.

Photo: Brooklyn Democratic Party

Women’s “Her”story continues as the Brooklym Dems celebrate district leaders who serve on the Kings County Democratic Women’s Caucus, a diverse coalition of women committed to serving New York state’s largest political organization and NYC’s largest Democratic Committee.

Members include Jennifer Faucher, AD-41; Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, AD-42; Michelle Tégé, AD-43; Diana Gonzalez, AD-44; Victoria Mushailova, AD-45; Angela Kravtchenko, AD-46; Nancy Tong, AD-47; Ida Klein, AD-48; Joyce Ziaoqiong Xie, AD-49; Jenna R. Bimbi, AD-50; Jacqui Painter, AD-51; Lydia Bella Green, AD-52; Maritza Davila, AD-53; Arleny Alvarado-McCalla, AD-54; Darlene Mealy, AD-55; Kenesha Traynham-Cooper, AD-56; Shaquana D. Boykin, AD-57; Mercedes Narcisse, AD-58; Roxanne Persaud, AD-59; Nikki Lucas, AD-60; and Samia Aljahmi, AD-64.

Assemblymember Bichotte Hermelyn’s Women of Distinction Award Ceremony takes place on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn College Library–Woody Tanger Auditorium, 2920 Campus Rd. RSVP to (718) 940-0428 or [email protected].