Women who are or have been a shining light of leadership in Bethlehem will be honored by the South Bethlehem Historical Society (SBHS) this summer at “2022: Women in Leadership: Past and Present.”

The initial SBHS Women’s Luncheon will celebrate Christmas City women past and present at noon Saturday, Aug. 27, at The Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference Center (Best Western), 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem.

“In discussions, we felt women who served Bethlehem, past and present, in leadership should be highlighted,” said Esther M. Lee, chairwoman of the SBHS Program Committee. “As far as I know, this is the first program of this nature presented by the SBHS.”

Honorees who were active in leadership in South Bethlehem are the late Joan Campion, founder of SBHS; Adrienne Redd, co-founder of SBHS; and the late Linnie Fowler.

Present honorees making a difference are: Robin Hemmons Alozie, educator, Freedom High School, Bethlehem Area School District; Lara Bly, designer, business; Melissa Miranda Craig, executive director, Medical Community Center; Angela DelGrosso, government, City of Bethlehem; Anna Smith, consultant; and Mary Wright, actress, playwright, the Arts.

All members of the luncheon committee are enthusiastic about this first of what will be an annual event.

“We’re excited about it,” Lee said. “We actually wanted to present this program in March, which is Women’s History Month, but locations and specifics delayed us.”

“The South Side of Bethlehem has so much history to be shared going forward – this is the tip of the iceberg,” Lee said. “There is a richness to the ethnicity of South Bethlehem that I saw as a black woman growing up.”

Her education began at the former Central ES in Bethlehem, and continued at Broughal JHS (now Broughal MS) and Liberty HS.

“My classmates were from various ethnicities and countries, and we all got along, contrary to today. We shared experiences, we shared almost everything in life,” she said.

“Even as a school director, I didn’t see the problems we’re seeing now – in education, yes, but not with race.”

“We shared laughter and games – people need to restore that,” Lee said. “And religion was a great part of it.”

Lee recalled as an 11- or 12-year old girl, she attended a united Girl Scout event at St. Joseph Windish Catholic Church.

“I remember looking at the beauty of that Catholic Church,” she said. As a Baptist, she was used to a plainer church and was in awe of what she saw inside.

“The beauty of the church is in my memory,” she said. “It was amazing to me.”

Such experiences are part of South Bethlehem’s rich history.

Luncheon donation is $40 per person, with a reservation deadline of Friday, July 15. For reservations contact Lee, emlanelee@gmail.com, 610-866-2078; or Maureen Dresen, president of SBHS, mrdresen@gmail.com, 610-866-8531. Choice of entrees includes chicken caprese, grilled salmon and veggies a la Grec.

Souvenir journal ads must be sent print/camera ready by Sunday, July 31 to Jessica L. Lee, secretary of SBHS, jlee975@gmail.com. Ads must be jpg/pdf at 300 dpi with sizes ranging in price from $50-$200.

The SBHS Womens’ Luncheon Committee is comprised of Esther M. Lee, chairwoman; Barbara Traupman; Anne Evans; Don Elliott; and Richard “Bucky” Szulborski, SBHS vice president. All are SBHS board members.

SBHS officers are Dresen, president; Szulborski, vice president; Jessica L. Lee, secretary; and Charles Schneider, treasurer.

Its mission statement declares the SBHS, founded in 1985, “will preserve and make known the Second Chapter of Bethlehem’s history, 1850 forward, by focusing on the individuals, ethnic groups and material evidence which helped make possible the industrialization and growth of South Bethlehem.”