The Collier County Democratic Party is one of the sponsors for this year’s Women’s March to Win rally in downtown Naples on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The march and rally commemorates women’s rights. The march will start and finish in Cambier Park.  Marchers are asked to assemble in the park starting at 9 a.m., with the march to start at 10.  The march route is shorter than last year and prior years, taking marchers south on 8^th St South, turning west on 8^th Ave S, north on 3^rd St South to 5^th Ave, up 5^th Ave and back into Cambier Park.

Back this year to provide live musical entertainment will be all-female R&B band “Women Don’t Conform” and leading Collier County Indie band, “The Woodwork.”  Additional features of this year’s celebration include an awards ceremony recognizing 15 local female leaders who have proven, sometimes through decades of service, their devotion to bettering our community.  In addition, filmed testimonials of a multi-ethnic, diverse group of students, adults and teachers will be produced by the Media Department of the Lorenzo Walker Technical College for display on large flat-screen TVs from the stage.

There will be vendors selling merchandise, non-profits tabling and dispensing information and food trucks in addition to live music and surprise entertainment.  All in all, organizers aim to create a festive celebratory atmosphere paying tribute to the remarkable achievements of women in our community.

As a courtesy for attendees this year, March organizers have reserved 750 chairs free of charge available to all on a first come, first served basis in Centennial Park.

This year once again, there will be marches all over the country and around the world on January 18. Our Naples March is affiliated with both national  organizations:  “The Women’s March,” which has more than 50 affiliate marches in North America and around the globe.

As in past years, the lead organizers are Collier Freedom. This year, additional organizations have stepped forward to help organize and sponsor the march and celebration.  They include Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ); SWFL Justice4All Coalition; Planned Parenthood of Southwest & Central Florida; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America; Students Demand Action; Naples Pride; Collier County Democratic Party; Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Greater Naples, and many others.