The strength of women is a story told across every nation. This was the central message at Roca Chelsea’s International Women’s Day event held on March 29, which drew approximately 30 young mothers to participate.
Roca’s Young Mothers program works to support high-risk young mothers in overcoming violence and poverty, securing employment, and providing care for their children. The program fosters community through weekly family nights, where mothers and children attend classes, learn new skills, and build connections while enjoying meals and socializing in a supportive setting. The International Women’s Day celebration was an extension of this regular gathering, offering participants the opportunity to share their cultural heritage and learn about influential women from their countries of origin.
Prior to the celebration, each young mother researched a historical woman from her home country and prepared remarks to share with the group. The presentations featured an impressive array of women from Honduras, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
Gina Josette, a staff member with Roca Chelsea Young Mothers, explained that “We asked them to look for women in history that made a difference and acknowledge powerful women in Latin America who have always been there,” “We wanted to celebrate these women and ourselves as women in a fun and creative way.”
The celebration was spirited and joyful. Attendees also brought traditional foods from their home countries, transforming the event into a shared culinary experience.
Josette noted that “It’s important and empowering for our young mothers to celebrate women in their country’s history,” “For other events, we celebrate other important parts of our lives—Mother’s Day, graduations, etc. We celebrate any type of success in our group, and we celebrate it together.”