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Support and Inspiration at 3rd Annual Women’s Day in North Haven

Local women are coming together at Montanari Brothers Powerhouse Gym to support each other and women in need at the gym’s third annual Women’s Day on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 31 Bernhard Road, North Haven. It will be an event open to the public designed to offer support and inspiration to women in attendance and raise money for two New Haven women’s shelters, New Life and Martha’s Place.

The money will go directly to New Reach, a New Haven charity that focuses on providing services and housing to the homeless. Mary Grande, a New Reach representative, said that the two shelters serve 38 moms and 51 children altogether.

“These women and families depend on us because we literally are the difference between a family sleeping in their car or couch surfing or being in an unsafe situation or having a secure place to lay their head at night,” Grande said.

Jamie Pinder came up with the idea in 2017. In its first year, the event attracted about 50 women. It grew the following year, raising $1,200 for the organization.

Linda Stevens, who took over the planning this year with two other women when Pinder moved away, hopes this year’s event will continue to succeed.

“We want to give back to women within the community…What’s better than women giving back to other women?” said Stevens, a personal trainer at the gym.

This year, the event will feature a raffle, food, and vendors in addition to four inspirational speakers with different stories to tell.

“We want the day to support and empower and inspire the women that come to the event by providing them with speakers,” Stevens said.

Attendees will hear from Jodi Lyons, Gennifer Strobo, and Swann Cardot, all three competitors in the fitness world. They’re also entrepreneurs with businesses as coaches, nutrition, and make-up lines.

“Gennifer, Swann, and Jodi will speak about their life experiences,” Stevens said.

Strobo, for instance, has struggled with type one diabetes and MS throughout her professional career. She’ll offer her story and take questions.

“Until you really talk to someone, you never know what struggles they’ve had to go through to get to where they are,” Stevens said.

Laura Campbell, a life coach, will finish off the speaking part of the event to give encouragement, especially for women going through a transitional period of their lives.

“She helps women that are having some sort of life altering situation navigate that,” Stevens said.

Stevens, who has previously been a speaker at the event, said that sharing her experience led her to meet other women struggling with the same problems.

“It’s about connecting and sharing,” she said. “It’s so powerful when you see women being honest and open with each other.”

In addition to the speakers, organizers have invited vendors and will also offer a raffle. Tickets for the event cost $40 and can be purchased at the door during the event on Saturday, Jan. 19.

“Some women [who come] are fitness enthusiasts, some women are competitors…Some women just come because they follow some of the women that are speaking at the panel…or they’re having some sort of life experience that’s bringing them,” Stevens said.

“We want it to be women of all walks of life. You can be a mom, a working woman, whoever,” she said.