SPRINGFIELD –  Hundreds of people are expected to line the streets of Springfield on Jan. 18 for the third Annual Pioneer Valley Women’s March.

The march began in Northampton as a protest, Jeannette Rivera, Regional Outreach Director for the Pioneer Valley Women’s March, told Reminder Publishing. It also took place in Northampton the following year, Rivera said, due to accessibility and affordability, but the plan was always to hold the march in different cities across the Pioneer Valley.

Rivera said with the march progressing into year three, they realized “[we] need to start moving to sister cities and progressing the march” By moving the march to Springfield, Rivera said, they are also “highlighting issues in an urban setting.”

Springfield was chosen as this year’s march location for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons, Rivera said, was that like Northampton, Springfield is accessible to a large number of people.

“This is about accessibility too, for marchers,” she explained. “Bringing it to a larger city, where it may be harder for people to go to Northampton, is important for us.”

The City of Springfield, she said, “has been welcoming.” However, one of the challenges organizers faced this year was that “there are more costs to have a march in Springfield.” This, Rivera said, was “one of the barriers of migrating the march previously.”

Planning for the march began last year, Rivera said, as their focus isn’t just on planning a march, but getting the women in the city’s community involved as well.

“We have been meeting bi-weekly in the fall, and weekly as December hit,” she explained. She said the organization has also been “staging since March of last year” by “building a coalition of new members,” “partnering with Springfield Women Organize” and “building the women who have been planning.”

This is something organizers plan to do again for the 2021 march in a new city.

“The idea is next year migrate to a new sister city and build a coalition,” Rivera said. “[We] think it’s important that women in the community get involved.”

Rivera said leading up to this year’s march sign making parties were hosted in Springfield, Northampton, Chicopee and Holyoke. The parties weren’t just for making signs, though. “We wanted our marchers to meet each other,” Rivera explained.

She said during the sign-making events, volunteers were also recruited to work the event. “We’re all volunteer led. Without women donating their time, it wouldn’t be possible,” she said.

Rivera said the 2020 march is also significant because it falls on the 100 year anniversary of the 19th Amendment being passed. However, despite being able to vote for 100 years now, Rivera said there is still a lot of progress to be made, especially in light of the current climate crisis.

“One hundred years, yes it’s a lot of progress, but not without women demanding the progress,” Rivera stated. “The climate crisis is significant, it does affect women. Women are the primary caregivers, and most vulnerable when disaster strikes.”

Rivera said those planning to attend the march should wear comfortable shoes and warm socks, as the march will go on no matter what the weather is.

Marchers will begin to meet beginning at 11 a.m. at the Northgate Center on 1985 Main St. Rivera said parking is limited, so those who wish to get a good parking spot should come early or carpool.

Before the march begins, Rivera said there will be a pep rally “to keep people motivated.” The march will kick-off at 12 p.m. and proceed down Main Street for a little more than half a mile to City Hall where a rally will be held.

Rivera said the rally will begin at 1 p.m. and will feature activists and other speakers, performances and live music. She added that people will also be able to meet up inside of City Hall, where local organizations will have information tables and booths set up.

People are encouraged to bring their own signs. Rivera said this year organizers are encouraging people to be environmentally conscious and if marchers have signs they’ve previously used, to bring them and trade with someone at the march. Additionally, if participants want to donate their sign, they can do that.

Rivera said she is excited for the march, which she described as “always a welcoming and open event to all.”

Those interested in volunteering, donating, or looking for more information on parking and transportation options should visit https://pioneervalleywomensmarch.org/home/2020-march-information/.