Sisters for Peace/WAM Theatre Host Screening of 'Half the Sky' as Part of March Festival of Women Writers

Sisters for Peace and WAM Theatre are delighted to be hosting a free screening of the PBS Documentary 'Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide' at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Friday, March 15 at 7pm as part of the March Berkshire Festival of Women Writers.

This powerful documentary, inspired by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's bestselling book, introduces women and girls who are living under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable and fighting bravely to change them. The film reflects viable and sustainable options for empowerment and offers an actionable blueprint for transformation.

The film will be followed by a community discussion exploring effective actions and agents of change for women and girls in our own community and beyond. The panel will be moderated by Kristen van Ginhoven of WAM Theatre and will include Maia Conty from AIER's Women's Financial Empowerment Series, Shirley Edgarton from Rite of Passage for Girls program and the Women of Color Giving Circle, Jeanet Ingalls from Shout Out Loud Productions, Bryan Nurnberger from Simply Smiles and Ananda Timpany from Railroad Street Youth Project.

There will also be a special performance during the evening, featuring Lizzie West, local singer songwriter. Lizzie has toured at length and has had her music in films, TV, and on the radio. Entertainment Weekly called her a "visionary troubadour." She performs with her husband Baba Buffalo, a seasoned player of a most magical music sound.

Caroline Wheeler, founder of Sisters for Peace, states, "Through the Half the Sky stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women's potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Sisters for Peace has been wanting to host a screening of this documentary since it came out and we hope many people will join us to hear more and share how they have also been inspired by Half the Sky."

Kristen van Ginhoven, Artistic Director of WAM Theatre, adds "WAM is proud to successfully be using theatre as our way of being part of the Half the Sky movement. We are delighted to be co-hosting this screening and look forward to meeting more agents of change in our community."

The Half the Sky screening is sponsored by McTeigue & McClellend and Sisters for Peace.

Like many who have read Half the Sky, Sisters for Peace founder Caroline Wheeler was compelled to engage others to get involved and to work together to help empower women and girls around the world. In just over a year, Sisters for Peace has rallied to do volunteer work and has given over $8,000 to local and global organizations. Sisters for Peace is an entirely volunteer organization, and every dollar donated goes directly to the NGOs that work to empower women and girls. It doesn't take an extensive network of partners and investors to start making a difference. www.sistersforpeace.org

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