BRENDA BERKMAN — A TRAILBLAZER STARTS A NEW PATH

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"In 1977, when the New York Fire Department finally opened up applications for women, Berkman was among the first group to apply. She was in her third year of law school at the time. one of several women to become the first female firefighters in New York City.

On the easternmost corner of ground zero on the afternoon of September 11, 2001, Brenda Berkman and a small group of her fellow firefighters stood before a wall of flames and dust. Both towers had already collapsed, but every other building on the street was ablaze, including the 47-story 7 World Trade Center. 
Berkman, then a lieutenant with 20 years of experience, was off duty that morning when she got a call to turn on her television. As the image of the first tower collapsing replayed on the screen, she grabbed whatever gear she could find and rushed to her former Brooklyn firehouse, where she put on another firefighter’s uniform, boarded a police van and headed across the bridge toward the smoke."


Fast forward to 2022 and "Brenda would use the skills and techniques she learned and developed at The League to create pieces that reflected on her experience on September 11th. Her views of the World Trade Center, and her reflections on the events of that day, have led to multiple exhibitions. Brenda, who has always been a champion for women’s equality, now uses art to ensure that women are fairly represented. Her recent prints focus on the experience of women at Ground Zero, and the unsung heroines of New York’s response and recovery."

Find the full article here https://artmakers.nyc/brenda-berkman/
Some text also taken from https://msmagazine.com/2021/09/10/women-ground-zero-9-11-firefighters-brenda-berkman/
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#Brendaberkman #womeninfire #PioneeringWomen #Monumental Women #trailblazer #NYFD #911
#womenatgroundzero #artist #worldtradecenter #womensequality #heroinesofnewyork 

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