GIVING BACK
In 2011, Catherine Lee of Lee International, with support from the University of Maine School of Law, founded The Justice for Women Lecture Series. A native of Lewiston, Maine, Cathy was personally transformed as a result of an opportunity to study in Brazil during high school. "That experience opened up the world to me. I came to realize that people around the world share the same hopes and dreams."
Today, Cathy and Lee International remain active as founder and supporter of the program, which is now led in collaboration with Maine Law. At the end of Justice For Women Week 2016, Cathy was honored with the "Courage is Contagious" Award by Maine Law Dean, Danielle Conway.
Catherine facilitates a panel of four women who discuss what it's like navigating life as a Muslim in Maine during the 2017 Justice For Women Kick-Off event.
Lee International is also a proud sponsor of Maine's Empower the Immigrant Woman (EIW) Women's Conference and Trailblazers Gala. In fewer than 20 years, the face of Maine has changed to include many new immigrant families. Currently there are more than 7,000 foreign-born residents in Portland and over 3,000 in Lewiston-Auburn. This annual conference and gala serves to empower, educate and inspire the immigrant women and while raising awareness of significant challenges in order to motivate change in state and federal policies.
The following video features Zoe Sahloul who immigrated to Maine from Lebanon twenty years ago. She, and the many other New Mainers in our neighborhoods are why I support the EIM Conference.
Lee International is also a proud supporter of many local and global non-profit organizations including:
- Apne Aap Women Worldwide (Board Member)
- Empower the Immigrant Woman
- Hardy Girls Healthy Women
- Immigrant Resource Center of Maine
- ILAP Maine (Immigrant Legal Advocacy Program)
- Maine Climate Table
- Maine Women's Fund
- Maine Women's Policy Center
- Mitchell Institute
- Partners of the Americas Exchange Program (Board Member)
- Pathfinder International
- Portland Museum of Art
- Restorative Justice Institute
- Women Strong International (Board Member)
Receiving the "Courage is Contagious" Award by Maine Law Dean, Danielle Conway at the 2016 JFW Lecture.
Cathy Lee (left) with Dr. Lindewe Majele Sibanda (center), Justice For Women's 2016 Speaker and Maine Law Dean, Danielle Conway.
Cathy recently received the "One Who Leads" award from the Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine.
In 2015, Cathy Lee and the Justice for Women Lecture Series welcomed Ruchira Gupta, a leading global activist for the prevention of sex-trafficking, to Maine.