International Day of Women - March 8

I lived in Boston for many years in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I loved the city and the people I connected to there. One of the best connections I made was with a community activist and organizer who was working on the Main Streets program in the neighborhood where I lived. While I have not kept in touch with her as much as I would have liked through my moves around the country and world, Jennifer Rose has inspired me in many ways.

Jennifer was a networker; she made connections in a way that I admired. Now with all the social media we have, staying connected to people you meet is not as hard, but in the late nineties, it took a lot of work, and Jennifer was a wiz. She remembered everyone’s names and was able to connect people in her network with ease. I admired this skill, have tried to emulate it in my own life, but have come up short. I am bad with names and am poor at keeping up the connections I make, even with social media.

Jennifer also invited me to an event that she hosted annually, an International Women’s Day Tea. While I only attended once, I have been always wanted to start a similar tradition. Jennifer hosted women from her network in her home where she served snacks and tea. The diversity of women I met that day was wonderful and a true celebration.

Since this tea party, I have tried on a few occasions to do a similar event, with mixed success. And this year, with Covid, there is no tea party planned. But my hope is that starting next year, I am able to emulate the event that Jennifer had by inviting women to my home to celebrate their day.

Jennifer has been recognized for the work she has done in Waltham MA and today I want to recognize her for the impact she had on me in the short time we connected. I can only hope that I can contribute even a fraction of what Jennifer has done in her community in mine. As I look to the work I want to accomplish this next year, I will keep inspiring women like Jennifer in my mind. And celebrate International Women’s Day tomorrow by connecting to a women who has inspired you.