Organizers of a weekend celebration focusing on women and their achievements believe strength lies in collaboration.
Article content
Zonta, SheLeads and Armory Special Events teamed up for the I AM WOMAN event, which took place in Chatham on Friday and Saturday.
Article content
International Women’s Day featured a downtown march, organized by Zonta, on Friday afternoon, followed by an evening of activities at the Armory, including a panel discussion, interactive booths, refreshments, music, dance and a meditative ‘sound bath.’
On Saturday, the venue hosted a women-owned and operated vendor expo, to showcase entrepreneurs along with their products and services. More than 50 businesses and community organizations took part.
Entry was by donation to help support the Chatham-Kent Women’s Centre.
Lisa Lester, event organizer from Armory Special Events was impressed with the turnout, noting 200 people attended Friday, and between 300 to 500 through the doors Saturday.
Article content
“It was amazing,” she said. “It was so nice just to connect with all these women.”
Lester, who expects the weekend will continue next year, also hopes various events could take place on a more regular basis, including monthly.
“I think it needs to happen more,” she said. “Just to support each other and share our stories.
“Especially since the pandemic, and with all the social media, people have such a skewed perspective of what actually is happening. It’s important to connect in-person, and feel each others’ energy… When you share your truth, it touches people more than you know.”
Lester believes that everyone has a gift and that the key is discovering it and “bringing it to the world.”
Margery Muharrem, of Women United, said women have made great strides over the years, but added there’s still more work to do.
She credited the event for bringing everyone together and kickstarting conversations.
“It’s a great way of collaborating all the women in business and in non-profits,” she said. “(They’re) coming together rather than working in silos. There’s a lot more impetus to do bigger change.”
Share this article in your social network