LEWISTON — The Center for Wisdom’s Women, a weekday drop in center for women in downtown Lewiston, hosted a new program called Wise and Strong Women Speak on March 9. This event, which was standing room only, was held to mark International Women’s Day, and was the first program in an ongoing series planned to celebrate remarkable women in the community.

Fifty people attended the inaugural program which featured Margaret Craven and Parivash Rohani in a conversation about what they have learned from their life journeys. Both women are immigrants to the United States, Margaret from Ireland and Parivash from Iran. They came here as young women, one because of poverty and the other due to religious persecution. Craven now lives in Lewiston. Rohani, who is of the Baha’i faith, resides in Auburn, is a nurse in ICU at St. Mary’s and is active in creating interfaith gatherings at her home.

The center’s board chairwoman, Pam Beliveau remarked “The mission of our center is to offer a safe and sacred place that supports and empowers women. While these women spoke, the center was filled with an engaging and empowering energy. Our hearts were inspired. It was a powerful evening of community connection.”

Marguerite Stapleton, former vice-president for Mission Effectiveness at St. Mary’s, facilitated the conversation.

International Women’s Day has been celebrated around the world for just over 100 years. It is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.

Klara Tammany, director of the Women’s Center, noted that the overwhelming response to this event validated a desire in the community for programs that bring a wide spectrum of women together to celebrate and honor their stories, wisdom and strength.

The center is at 97 Blake St. in the extension in the back of Healy Terrace. For more information, contact Tammany at 513-3922.

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