LEWISTON – A Bates Community Partnership Celebration was held on Jan. 31 at the Lewiston Public Library.

Dinner was prepared by chefs from the Lewiston Regional Technical Center organization, Green Ladle. Included were performances by Bates College’s Deansmen and a fashion show from Lewiston Housing Authority’s Girls Aspirations Club, which is held at its Hillview Site.

Working with a new sewing machine purchased for the site by the housing authority, girls ages 10 to 15 sewed clothing out of recycled fabric. They made items from skirts to hijabs.

The girls exhibited their work down a catwalk during the fashion show.

In attendance were the coordinators of the club, Bates College student Erin Bonney and Bates VISTA volunteer and recent Bates graduate, Aubrey Nelson. “I’m really proud that the girls were able to pull this together.we had a record number of girls by the last week and they had a great time learning how to sew,” Nelson said.

The Hillview Aspirations Clubs were created in 2007 by a VISTA volunteer employed by Lewiston Housing Authority. The clubs aim to teach young boys and girls the importance of goals through community projects, creative activities and field trips.