Arizona PBS Celebrates Women’s History Month on 2 Channels

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american graduate PHOENIX – (March 2, 2016)

Arizona PBS honors Women’s History Month with a lineup of programming showcasing the struggles and victories of influential women in history on both Arizona PBS HD (8.1/Cox 1008) and World channel (8.3/Cox 88), beginning March 2 at 8 p.m.

The monthlong tribute features a selection of programs telling the stories of women who overcame hardship and adversity to create a lasting impact on society, from the 19th century to the present day.

“We’re pleased to celebrate the courageous and inspirational women whose triumphs helped shape modern society,” said Nancy Southgate, associate general manager of content at Arizona PBS. “Our Women’s History Month programming honors contributions from the musical masterwork of legendary country singer Loretta Lynn, to the inspiring story of a group of women who came together to fight the dropout rate, among many others.”

Arizona PBS’ Women’s History Month celebration will highlight the extraordinary stories of women of all kinds, including women who took on vital new roles during times of war, the cultural impact of the superhero Wonder Woman, one of popular culture’s most recognizable figures, and many others.

The Arizona PBS Women’s History Month programming lineup includes: (For additional airtimes, including encore broadcasts and overnights, visit www.azpbs.org/schedule.)

Independent Lens: “The Graduates”
Monday, March 21 at 11:30 p.m. on 8.1
Examine the Latino dropout crisis through the eyes of three girls who are part of an ongoing effort to increase graduation rates for a growing Latino population.

American Masters: “Loretta Lynn: Still a Mountain Girl”
Friday, March 25 at 8 p.m. on 8.1 – New!
From her Appalachian roots to the Oscar-winning biopic “Coal Miner's Daughter,” Loretta Lynn struggled to balance family and her music career.

On World 8.3 channel:

Independent Lens: “Wilhemina’s War”
Wednesday, March 2 at 8 p.m.
on World 8.3
Wilhemina’s War is the story of Wilhemina Dixon, an uneducated daughter of sharecroppers who becomes a force in helping her granddaughter survive the health risks and social stigma of living with HIV in the South, where HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among black women. The film bears witness to the resilience and determination of the human spirit in the face of tremendous adversity.

AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange “The Carrier”
Wednesday, March 3 at 2:30 p.m. on World 8.3
Told through the eyes of an increasingly empowered heroine who refuses to be overwhelmed by the forces that surround her, “The Carrier” is a powerful and moving portrait of an unconventional family, set against the backdrop of the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia. This unique lyrical style film by Maggie Betts follows Mutinta Mweemba, a 28-year-old subsistence farmer living in a polygamous marriage. After learning she is HIV-positive and pregnant again, Mutinta sets out on a quest to keep her unborn child virus-free and break the cycle of transmission for the next generation.

Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby
Saturday, March 5 at 9 a.m. on World 8.3
The first Women’s National Air Derby brought together a media darling, a Hollywood starlet, aviatrix record breakers and the unforgettable foul-mouthed wife of a preacher to overcome gender stereotypes and prove that women have what it takes to fly among the clouds.

The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club
Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m. on World 8.3
The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club chronicles the thrilling life and extraordinary times of aviation pioneer Florence Lowe "Pancho" Barnes, one of the most colorful and accomplished women pilots of the earliest 20th century, and an ill-behaved woman who made history.

Closing the Gap: 50 Years Seeking Equal Pay
Saturday, March 5 at 3 p.m. on World 8.3
Explore why the pay gap persists and how to improve it. This program aims to arm women with information and skills to assist them in earning fair pay throughout their own careers and toward a secure retirement.

Wings for Maggie Ray
Sunday, March 6 at 11 p.m. on World 8.3
Examine the remarkable life and legacy of Margaret "Maggie" Ringenberg, a U.S. Army Air Force WASP (Women's Air Service Pilot) and renowned long-distance aviation racer. Re-enactments, archival photos and film, and insightful interviews from those closest to her shed light on Maggie's fearlessness, confidence, competitive nature, drive and determination.

American Masters: The Women’s List
Tuesday, March 8 at 9 a.m. on World 8.3
“American Masters: The Women’s List” focuses on the exceptional achievements and struggles of women from a variety of industries. All trailblazers in their respective fields, these women share their experiences struggling against discrimination and overcoming challenges to make their voices heard and their influence felt.

America Reframed: “BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez”
Wednesday, March 9 at 8 a.m. on World 8.3
“BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez” is a portrait of the artist, revealing Sanchez’s uncompromising life. Deemed "a lion in literature's forest" by poet Maya Angelou, Sanchez is a winner of major literary honors, including the American Book Award in 1985 and the Harper Lee Award in 2004, among others. A significant figure in the 1960s Black Arts Movement, often considered the artistic arm of the Black Power Movement, she raised her voice in the name of black culture, civil rights, women's liberation and world peace.

P.O.V.: “Guilty Pleasures”
Thursday, March 10 at 10 a.m. on World 8.3
Every four seconds a romance novel published by Harlequin or its British counterpart, Mills & Boon, is sold somewhere in the world. Julie Moggan's “Guilty Pleasures” takes an amusing and touching look at this global phenomenon. Ironies abound in the contrasts between the everyday lives of the books' readers and the fantasy worlds that offer them escape. “Guilty Pleasures” portrays five romance devotees who must, ultimately, find their dreams in the real world.

American Masters: “Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel”
Thursday, March 10 at 3 p.m. on World 8.3
Margaret Mitchell was no ordinary writer. The one book she published in her lifetime – Gone With the Wind – sold millions of copies at the height of the Great Depression in America and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937. Who was the creator behind two of the world’s greatest lovers – Scarlett and Rhett – and the tumultuous romance that left book readers and film viewers wondering about their final fate together in one of storytelling’s most talked about cliffhangers? She was certainly no ordinary woman either.

Independent Lens: “Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Super Heroines”
Saturday, March 12 at 12 p.m. on World 8.3
This program traces the evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the blockbusters of today, this film looks at how popular representations of powerful women often reflect society's anxieties about women's liberation.

Makers: “Women in Comedy”
Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. on World 8.3
Track the rise of women from '70s sitcoms to groundbreakers of the 1980s comedy club boom to today.

Makers: “Women in Hollywood”
Saturday, March 12 at 3 p.m. on World 8.3
Follow the women of showbiz, from the earliest pioneers to present-day power players, as they influence the creation of one of the country's biggest commodities: entertainment.

Makers: “Women in Space”
Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. on World 8.3
Trace the history of women pioneers in the U.S. space program through early struggles to the achievements of women like Sally Ride, Eileen Collins, Mae Jemison and Peggy Whitson.

Raising Ms. President
Tuesday, March 15 at 9 a.m. on World 8.3
“Raising Ms. President” is a documentary film about raising the next generation of female political leaders. Filmmaker Kiley Lane Parker explores the reasons why women don’t run for office, where political ambition begins and why we should encourage more women to lead.

Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
Wednesday, March 16 at 11 a.m. on World 8.3
Mary Lou Williams is remembered as one of jazz music’s greatest innovators. Discover how Williams overcame discrimination and adversity and ultimately helped shape the soundscape of 20th century America.

Independent Lens: “Las Marthas”
Thursday, March 17 at 10 a.m. on World 8.3
One of the largest celebrations of George Washington’s birthday in the world takes place in the border town of Laredo, Texas. This 116-year-old tradition has evolved into an entire month of inventive reenactments and bicultural celebrations, many of them involving their Mexican sister city, Nuevo Laredo. The most preeminent event of them all, however, is the invitation-only Colonial Ball hosted by the elite Society of Martha Washington.

Queen of Swing
Thursday, March 17 at 11 a.m. on World 8.3
“Queen of Swing” recounts the true story of a Jazz Age trailblazer – 95-year-old entertainer Norma Miller. The engaging biography highlights the life, career and indomitable spirit of the Harlem-born actress, dancer and choreographer known as “The Queen of Swing.”

P.O.V.: “Don’t Tell Anyone”
Thursday, March 17 at 2:30 p.m. on World 8.3
Since she was four years old, Angy Rivera has lived in the United States with a secret that threatens to upend her life: she is undocumented. Now 24-years-old and facing an uncertain future, Rivera becomes an activist for undocumented youth with a popular advice blog and a YouTube channel boasting more than 30,000 views. She steps out of the shadows a second time to share her story of sexual abuse, an experience all too common among undocumented women.

P.O.V.: “Tea Time”
Saturday, March 19 at 12 p.m. on World 8.3
Ritual is often associated with powerful and impersonal institutions, but for five Chilean women, ritual centers on a monthly gathering that has sustained them through 60 years of personal and societal change.

Makers: “Women in Politics”
Saturday, March 19 at 2 p.m. on World 8.3
Examine the fight for female political representation over the last century, from political trailblazers like Hilary Clinton, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Olympia Snowe and many others.

Makers: “Women in Business”
Saturday, March 19 at 3 p.m. on World 8.3
Meet some of the exceptional women, past and present, who have taken the world of business by storm, including Ursula Burns, Sallie Krawcheck, Martha Stewart and Sheryl Sandberg.

Makers: “Women in War”
Saturday, March 19 at 4 p.m. on World 8.3
Look at American women's increasing participation and leadership in war, from Vietnam to the present – as soldiers, nurses, journalists, diplomats and spies.

Independent Lens: “All of Me: A Story of Love, Loss and Last Resorts”
Thursday, March 24 at 8 a.m. on World 8.3
The “Girls” have been friends – and morbidly obese – for years. They are smart, intuitive, complex, warm, and compelling and speak openly about their inner lives. Now they’re going through the life-changing process of weight-loss surgery in an effort to lose hundreds of pounds. The experience presents a host of issues and consequences – some they knew they were in for, some they feared and some they never could have imagined.

Julia Robinson and Hilbert’s Tenth Problem
Thursday, March 24 at 8 p.m. on World 8.3
Hear the story of Julia Robinson, a pioneer among women and an important American mathematician against a background of mathematical ideas.

No Evidence of Disease
Thursday, March 24 at 9 p.m. on World 8.3
A unique band of six gynecologic oncology surgeons from across the country, N.E.D., is taking healing and the arts to a new level. Created as a cover band to entertain their peers at a medical conference, they saw the potential to reach women in a powerful way – through music. What was started as a novelty meant to entertain has turned into a powerful awareness movement to give a voice to women affected by gynecologic cancers.

War Zone/Comfort Zone
Friday, March 25 at 9 p.m. on World 8.3
Hear the personal story of women veterans’ plight for normalcy and peace without the benefit of a comprehensive support system. Follow the journey of Shalini Madaras and Joy Kiss in the fight to open the first transitional house for women veterans in the state of Connecticut despite virulent neighborhood opposition. With the use of interviews and footage, the documentary also tells the story of four women who are coping with life after the military, providing a surprising look into the lives of these invisible veterans.

P.O.V.: “The Light in Her Eyes”
Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. on World 8.3
Houda al-Habash, a conservative Muslim preacher, founded a Qur'an school for girls in Damascus, Syria, roughly 30 years ago. Every summer, her female students immerse themselves in a rigorous study of Islam. A surprising cultural shift is underway – women are claiming space within the mosque. Shot right before the uprising in Syria erupted, “The Light in Her Eyes” offers an extraordinary portrait of a leader who challenges the women of her community to live according to Islam, without giving up their dreams.

American Masters: “Billie Jean King”
Saturday, March 26 at 8 p.m. on World 8.3
This documentary traces the incredible life of Billie Jean King, the single most important female athlete of the 20th century.

Georgia O’Keeffe: A Woman on Paper
Saturday, March 26 at 9:30 p.m. on World 8.3
“Georgia O’Keeffe: A Woman on Paper,” highlights the artist’s career while focusing on the little-known story of O’Keeffe’s time spent in Columbia, S.C., as an art instructor at Columbia College. The program follows O’Keeffe’s career through various artistic stages, ending in New Mexico, where she created more realistic paintings with vivid color.

Global Voices: “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai”
Sunday, March 27 at 10 p.m. on World 8.3
Experience the story of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement and follow Wangari Maathai, the movement’s founder and the first environmentalist and African woman to win the Nobel Prize.

Cuba Mia: Portrait of an All-Woman Orchestra
Tuesday, March 29 at 8 a.m. on World 8.3
“Cuba Mia: Portrait of An All-Woman Orchestra” captures the musicians of the all-female orchestra Camerata Romeu as they prepare for an end-of-the-year concert in Old Havana's Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. With one of the world's most beautiful churches as the backdrop, the women play a unique blend of classical music, created by famous Cuban and Latin American composers.

Caged Bird: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price
Monday, March 28 at 8 p.m. on World 8.3
In 1933, Arkansas native Florence B. Price made music history as the first African-American woman to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra when the Chicago Symphony played her Symphony in E minor at the Chicago World's Fair. In her legendary 1939 concert at the Lincoln Memorial, a watershed moment in the civil rights movement, the famous vocalist Marian Anderson concluded her program with a Florence Price song. ​This documentary tells the inspirational story of a gifted woman who triumphed over prejudice and preconceptions.

My Louisiana Love
Wednesday, March 30 at 10 a.m. on World 8.3
Journey with young Native American woman and “My Louisiana Love” filmmaker, Monique Verdin, as she travels to Southeast Louisiana to reunite with her Houma Indian family. Upon her return, she sees that her people’s traditional way of life – fishing, trapping and hunting these fragile wetlands – is threatened by a cycle of man-made environmental crises. As Louisiana is devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the BP oil spill, Monique finds herself turning to environmental activism, and documenting her family’s struggle to stay close to the land despite the cycle of disasters and the rapidly disappearing coastline.

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