Susannah Charleson and Puzzle; Search and Rescue dog handler duo Susannah Charleson and her partner, a golden retriever named Puzzle. The pair have worked all types of cases, from major emergencies to searching for missing children and Alzheimer’s patients. It is important to recognize and celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of emergency service animals as well.
Molly Williams; Molly Williams is the first known female and first known black firefighter in the U.S. A former slave in New York City, she became a member of the Oceanus Engine Company #11 in 1818. When many of the firemen became ill during an outbreak, Molly didn’t hesitate to step up, pulling a pumper through deep snow to extinguish a house fire at the age of 71.
Forest Firefighters of Russia; Sofya Kosacheva, Anna Baskakova, and Anastasia Ivashkevich are leaders and volunteers in forest firefighting exhibitions in their hometowns. They protect their communities during wildfire seasons, despite it being illegal for women to be firefighters in Russia.
Meenakshi Vijaykumar; As the first Indian Woman fire officer, Meenakshi has been the leader of many emergency scenes and major disasters, including the mega floods of Chennai in 2015, where she saved over 100 people from a hospital by boating them to safety.
Charmaine’s Crew; Australia’s first all-Indigenous, all-female fire brigade, a highly- skilled group of mothers and grandmothers who protect their communities and sacred land. The crew commissioned a local Indigenous artist to paint one of their professional fire trucks, and this is my homage to them.
Josephine Serrano Collier; Josephine was the first Latina woman to join the Los Angeles Police Department in 1946, along with 8 other women. However they were not given a proper ceremony, uniform, or weapons. This piece is giving Josephine the headshot she deserves, while celebrating her culture, a very important element of her life.
Toronto 911 Dispatchers; Dispatchers are often overlooked and some may not even
consider them to be first responders, yet they play an important and vital roll. This 24 panel flipbook animation illustrates the continuous calls that flood the station, amounting to 5000 emergency calls a day in Toronto.
Erica Carney; Kansas City Paramedic Erica, taught all City Hall employees hands-only CPR and hosted community events for CPR education, reaching an estimated 200,000 Kansas City residents. The bystander CPR rate soared from 29% up to 50%. She lives by the quote “Do Little Things With Great Love.”
Brenda Berkman; Brenda Berkman is a pioneering female firefighter. She was the sole named class plaintiff in the federal sex discrimination lawsuit that opened the Fire Department of the City of New York to women firefighters. After she won the lawsuit in 1982, she and 40 other women became FDNY firefighters.
Ukrainian Army Combat Medics; Of the 60,000 women in the Ukrainian army, 5,000 of them serve in combat units, working as paramedics and snipers. This piece is representing all of the brave women protecting their communities and country.
Women of 9-1-1
Shedding light on incredible women first responders whose stories are often untold. This thesis celebrates 10 women throughout history and around the world, who have paved the way for future generations of first responders like myself.
