Dear Pawtucket Residents,
Last Friday, the City of Pawtucket proudly celebrated International Women’s Month by honoring the incredible contributions of women in our community. This annual observance is an important opportunity to recognize the leadership, strength, and resilience of women who continue to shape our city, state, and beyond.
As part of this year’s celebration, female-identifying members of our city staff wore purple to show their support and solidarity. We also came together on March 7th for the annual International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month Kickoff Celebration, hosted at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. This inspiring event, themed “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” highlighted the achievements of women across generations and encouraged future leaders to carry their legacies forward.
The event featured a panel discussion between three outstanding honorees—Patricia “Patti” DiCenso, Lydia Perez, and Verda Jones—and three senior student leaders from Pawtucket’s public high schools. I was honored to stand alongside local leaders and members of our community to recognize these incredible women and their contributions.
I want to extend my gratitude to the Pawtucket Women’s History Month Committee, Senator Lori Urso, Sandra Cano, the Pawtucket School Department, the Slater Industrial Archives, and the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council for organizing this event. Thank you as well to the community organizations that joined us to provide resources that support women and families.
Sincerely,
Donald R. Grebien
Mayor, City of Pawtucket