by John Elmore
9. March 2011 17:37
“Today marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day,” said LSSM’s Dana Doll. A hundred years ago, more than a million men and women attended rallies supporting women’s rights to vote, to hold public office, to work and to be allowed vocational training, plus a call to end discrimination against women on the job. The largest gathering involved 30,000 people.
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan hosted a gathering at the Ladies Literary Club in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 to celebrate women around the world, especially local refugee women, and their efforts to bring an end to war for the protection of 
their children.
The evening program included interviews of two female refugees -- one a new business owner from Haiti and the other a recent arrival in West Michigan from Democratic Republic of Congo -- who know the hardships women face. Local recording artist Brie Stoner, who grew up as a missionary kid in Spain and has worked with women from North Africa, shared some of her music of compassion and hope.
Those in attendance finished the evening by marching together holding candles to the blue pedestrian bridge over the Grand River for a group photo with their signed banner. The picture will be gathered with more than a hundred other second annual "Join Me On the Bridge" events around the world, posted on the website of Women for Women.
For the full story about this evening event, click here. More photos from this event can be viewed by clicking on this link.
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