HITN concluded its Women’s History Month 2026 celebrations with a special event, held in collaboration with Lehman College, that honored distinguished professionals.

The purpose of the partnership was to bring together women leaders whose work and perspectives have had a meaningful impact on their communities and on future generations. Rather than being a symbolic celebration, the gathering was designed as an active exchange between four experienced leaders: Carmen Collado, Hon. Doris Gonzalez, Hon. Lumarie Maldonado-Cruz, and Maryann Marrapodi-Guzmán, with students, emphasizing real‑world influence and shared learning.

The event was built around the national Women’s History Month theme, ‘Women Leading the Change.’ This theme framed the entire program and highlighted how women drive progress across different fields by sharing their stories, mentoring others, and drawing on lived experience. The emphasis was on how personal journeys and professional lessons can open doors, challenge barriers, and create opportunities across industries such as media, education, and public service.

A central feature of the program was a fireside conversation, an informal but purposeful discussion format that encourages openness and reflection. The honorees whose professional experiences span from media, education, and public service shared insights from their careers and leadership paths. Students were not passive listeners; they were present as both the audience and active participants, engaging directly with the speakers and contributing to the conversation. This structure helped create a more personal and impactful exchange than a traditional panel or lecture.

A key interactive element was the Letters to the Next Generation initiative. Through this initiative, students read reflections written by accomplished women, which offered guidance, perspective, and encouragement drawn from real experiences. Students then had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss these reflections directly with the honorees. This interaction sparked meaningful dialogue about leadership, resilience, and personal purpose, helping students connect abstract ideas about success and change to real stories and challenges.

By intentionally connecting the emerging voices of the students with established leaders, the event reinforced HITN’s ongoing commitment to building pathways for future leaders, amplifying diverse perspectives, and supporting the next generation of change makers.