We Built a Community

By Mary Reese—Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When I first learned about the Sew Powerful project, I knew that I had to get involved. I work for Alverno College, a women’s college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that emphasizes service to the community.

For almost 130 years, we have been dedicated to the education of women, inspiring them to reach their fullest potential. I thought, “What a perfect fit!” I organized a group of seamstresses from across campus—students, faculty and staff—to begin sewing purses.

We were not only giving of our time and talents, we were helping to empower young women halfway around the world, allowing them to stay in school, and in turn, investing in their success. And isn’t that what it’s all about? A sisterhood, reaching across miles, borders, even oceans, to lift each other up and support one another so that we may all benefit from each individual’s triumphs.

I’m proud to say that together we sewed 20 purses. Some of us have been sewing a long time; some of us are truly beginners. But together, we built a community of women working for a single cause, one stitch at a time.