GRANITE FALLS, Minn., Dec. 28, 2023 – Pioneer PBS and Kandiyohi County Historical Society will be co-hosting a screening of “Eight Women Together Alone.” The event is at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10 and is taking place at Kandiyohi County Historical Society located at 610 Hwy 71 in Willmar. The screening is free and open to the public.
This half-hour documentary is about eight employees of Citizens National Bank who became a media sensation in 1977 when they walked off their jobs in America’s first bank strike. Their two-year long fight for equal rights and equal pay was immortalized in a documentary by filmmaker Lee Grant and produced by Mary Beth McCarthy, called The Willmar 8. Five decades later, this new Pioneer PBS special revisits the story of the Willmar 8 with four of the strikers as well as Mary Beth McCarthy and Lee Grant. Through these new interviews they reconsider their legacy and the state of women’s rights today.
The film was produced by Pioneer PBS’s Dana Conroy with videography by Pioneer PBS’s Ben Dempcy and Kristofor Gieske. It was edited by Mike Scholtz, a Duluth area filmmaker.
The event will include a screening of “Eight Women Together Alone” and a panel discussion with the filmmakers. RSVP is requested so adequate seating and refreshments can be arranged. Please RSVP by visiting pioneer.org/events or by calling Pioneer PBS at 800-726-3178.
About Kandiyohi County Historical Society
The Kandiyohi County Historical Society, established in 1897 under the name of the Old Settler’s Association, mission was to preserve the history of Kandiyohi County. In 1927, a cabin was dedicated at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds to be used as a museum, and in 1940, the name Kandiyohi County Historical Society was incorporated. The current museum building was dedicated in 1969, focusing on discovering, preserving, and telling the story of Kandiyohi County and its people.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing stories from rural Minnesota’s with the world. For more information visit pioneer.org or call 800-726-3178.
