LYNN — What is a trailblazer? That was the question posed at the very beginning of the City of Lynn’s Women’s History Month Panel, “Celebrating Trailblazers,” Thursday night.
“Trailblazers are truly the heart and soul of community,” said Faustina Cuevas, Lynn’s first-ever diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “They are innovators, they deliver pathways to let others come after them. They’re usually the ones to break down doors and break down barriers. They are pioneers, they lead the path for others to follow. They are a person who builds a better world for others.”
Seven trailblazing women sat in front of an audience at the Lynn Arts/Lynn Museum Thursday, and celebrated the work they’ve done in the community, and the power of being a woman.
Those women included Deb Ansourlian, executive director of Girls, Inc.; Sophor Chhor, Mental health counselor and advocate; Jessica Chiappini, city of Lynn’s first-ever female parking director; Frances Martinez, founder of North Shore Latino Business Association; Natasha Megie-Maddrey, Ward 4 city councilor; Maribel Ramirez, co-owner of Full Color; and Mary Wheeler, program director for Healthy Streets Outreach Program.
Starting the discussion, Cuevas asked the panel what inspired them to choose their specific career path. The unanimous answer of all women was to help others in one way or another, and be an inspiration to the next generation of women.
“I think as a woman, if we’re honest with ourselves, that we go along in our live when we’re younger and we think that we’re all that and a bag of chips,” Ansourlian said.
She continued, saying at some point women lose that confidence and spark, spending their entire lives trying to get it back.
“When I had the opportunity to come to Girls, Inc., my goal was that this next generation doesn’t lose that. That they always think that they’re all that and a bag of chips and they never lose their confidence,” she said.
Cuevas then asked the women about any hardships they’ve experienced in their journeys and how they overcame them.
Wheeler, who has been active in substance-abuse prevention in the city since 2005, said that her field is predominantly run by men and “men’s voices.”
“We have a saying in harm reduction, ‘do no harm, take no (grief)’ and that’s always been my way to make it through,” Wheeler said.
Megie-Maddrey said large challenges she faced as a woman of color running for office, was raising money and negativity towards her efforts online.
“For me, I just had to cancel out that noise, and (I) knew that I had a bigger purpose,” Megie-Maddrey said.
Ramirez and Chhour both shared the challenges that come with being immigrants, with Ramirez originally from Guatemala, and Chhour a Cambodian refugee. Both said it was a struggle learning both the language and providing for themselves in a new country.
Martinez said that she takes every challenge as a “learning process to get to the next level,” and urged women in the audience to do the same.
“I think that’s the biggest challenge, is just constantly reminding (myself) that you are deserving of this, it wasn’t given to me, I worked for it. The opportunity might’ve been available, but I worked for it,” Chiappini said about her status in the city.
The panelists were asked more questions by Cuevas, including inquiring about a moment they were most proud of. Unanimously, all panelists answered with a time where they saw their efforts pay off, being surrounded by friends and family, and knowing that their work was helping others, inspiring the next generation.
The latter part of the event was ran by the youth moderator Helina Almonte, who asked questions written down by the audience. Almonte is a third-year student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, and comes from Lynn.
To end the evening, Almonte asked the panel on the audience’s behalf what advice they would give to any woman struggling at the moment.
“Never take ‘no’ for an answer, never let anyone know your dreams, and always know that you can do anything you put your mind to,” Chiappini said.
“Integrity is very important,” Martinez said. “If you have that in you, you’ll be able to overcome anything, don’t limit yourself.”
The panel included celebration of not only the women up front, but the women who inspired them to chase their dreams, and the girls who are inspired by them.
