International Women’s Day Brunch: Celebrating Community, Conversation, and Women’s Leadership

On International Women's Day 2026, AAUW NYC Metro gathered for a special brunch, bringing together members and friends for an intimate afternoon of conversation, connection, and celebration.

In a city of millions, moments of genuine connection can be rare. This small gathering created the space for thoughtful discussion, shared stories, and new friendships among an extraordinary group of women whose work spans academia, the arts, education, and global public health.

The room included no fewer than three AAUW fellows whose research reflects the breadth of women’s scholarship and leadership today. Among them was Raina Yang, a Chinese writer and director based in New York and recent graduate from the MFA Film Directing program at Columbia University. Raina’s documentary work highlights underrepresented female protagonists who step into unfamiliar or traditionally male-dominated fields, exploring questions of identity, social boundaries, and the stories that often remain unspoken.

We were also joined by Ileana Jiménez, a nationally recognized educator and advocate for feminist education. For nearly two decades, Ileana has been a leading voice in bringing intersectional feminism into K–12 classrooms. Through her widely read blog Feminist Teacher and her innovative courses on feminism, activism, and literature, she has helped build a vibrant global community of educators committed to feminist teaching. Her work has earned numerous recognitions, including the Susan B. Anthony Award from NOW-NYC and being named one of the Feminist Press’s 40 Feminists Under 40.

Among the fellows present was Dr. Jessica Sims, Treasurer of AAUW NYC Metro. Jessica’s research explores how abusive relationships can shape human consciousness and autonomy. Her doctoral work developed a concept she calls “existential captivation,” examining why some survivors of domestic violence feel psychologically unable to leave their abusers. Drawing on philosophical traditions from Aristotle to Heidegger, her work seeks to illuminate the psychological dynamics of abuse and contribute to therapeutic approaches that help survivors reclaim physical and psychological autonomy.

The gathering also included three members of the AAUW NYC Metro board, as well as supporters of the branch — including one working with the Metropolitan Opera and another who leads an international foundation focused on world health, cultural diplomacy, humanitarian recognition, and conservation.

We were especially delighted to welcome Dr. Therese McGinn to her first ever AAUW event! Dr. McGinn has spent more than 30 years working in global public health in resource-poor settings, with a focus on improving reproductive health services in humanitarian and conflict-affected contexts. As the founding principal investigator of the RAISE Initiative and a longtime leader at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, her work has helped ensure that women and families around the world have access to critical reproductive health care and information.

What made the afternoon so special was not only the remarkable accomplishments represented around the table, but the spirit of curiosity and generosity in the conversation. Participants shared ideas across disciplines, discussed the challenges women face in their fields, and reflected on the importance of community and mentorship.

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s achievements, but also to reaffirm the importance of building spaces where women can learn from one another and support one another’s work. Our brunch was a beautiful reminder of the power of those spaces.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the afternoon so meaningful.

We look forward to many more opportunities to gather, learn, and build community together in the months ahead.