There’s something different about watching history come alive, not in a textbook, but through voices that sound like right now.

At the M&T Bank Exchange at the Hippodrome, I attended “Standing on Her Shoulders: The Power of Women — Past, Present, and Future,” hosted by the Hippodrome Foundation. The room was filled with more than 200 Baltimore-area students. The energy felt real, unfiltered, and honestly…refreshing.

Through original speeches and thoughtful dialogue, they unpacked the legacy of the women’s suffrage movement while connecting it to today’s conversations around voice, visibility, and civic engagement. It wasn’t rehearsed, it was personal. And you could feel that.

That message was reinforced by panelist Maria Tildon, who emphasized the importance of not only understanding history, but actively participating in shaping what comes next. Her perspective grounded the conversation in the present, highlighting that civic engagement isn’t a moment, it’s an ongoing responsibility. As she shared, “This will give them the tools to consider all of the decisions they make in their lives, particularly with regard to civic engagement.”

The event is part of a larger lead-up to SUFFS, the Tony Award-winning musical coming to Baltimore May 26–31. The production tells the story of the women who fought for the right to vote,but what makes it hit is how relevant it still feels. It’s about persistence, community, and the power of everyday people choosing to speak up.

That throughline, from past to present, was impossible to ignore. These students weren’t just learning history; they were actively placing themselves within it, asking what it means to carry that legacy forward.

If this event was the preview, SUFFS is the full experience.

The show will take the stage at the Hippodrome Theatre, offering audiences a chance to witness a story that doesn’t just inform, it resonates.

Visit baltimore.broadway.com for more information. 

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